A teenager lay over the top of a 16-year-old boy to protect him during an attack on Nelson St in Blenheim last year, police say.
Kaya Hinemaorea Walsh, 19, from Springlands, admitted her part in the beating of the boy when she appeared in Blenheim District Court yesterday.
Walsh pleaded guilty to a charge of assault.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Graham Single said Walsh had been at a party on the night of October 23 and was intoxicated.
She was walking along Nelson St with her partner when he started fighting with the victim, Mr Single said. Walsh's partner was knocked unconscious by the victim. The victim was then punched to the ground by Walsh's friends, he said.
Once on the ground the victim curled up in the foetal position to protect himself while people kicked and punched him.
Walsh was angered by what the victim had done to her boyfriend and later told police she hit the victim "once or twice", Mr Single said.
The group attack lasted several minutes.
"Witnesses described it as like a swarm of people involved in the assault."
Eventually a teenager arrived and pushed through the crowd and lay over the victim to protect him. However, the attack continued until members of the public pushed the crowd back and allowed the victim to be carried to a car, Mr Single said.
The crowd followed throwing objects at the car, which smashed the front windscreen. They then surrounded the car and began kicking it.
The victim required stitches to his left cheek and suffered significant bruising to his face and torso, he said.
Defence lawyer Kent Arnott said Walsh accepted the man was seriously beaten during the incident and she reacted badly.
Judge John Walker said Walsh's actions were not as severe as others involved in the incident.
He took into account her guilty plea and that she had not appeared before the court before and sentenced her to 40 hours community work.
- The Marlborough Express
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