Drunken Aussie jailed for NZ attack

Tag : Memory Help

A drunken Australian attacked a woman at random in a New Zealandcity street, dragging her away and threatening to kill her beforeshe escaped.
Security officer Shane Kenneth Boettcher told the 31-year-oldwoman, who was having trouble breathing as he held her: "Cooperateand you will live. Call for help and you will die."
Boettcher, 28, has no memory of the early morning attack on a womanwalking to work in Christchurch, Christchurch District Court heard.
But although he says he was drunk, Boettcher acceptedresponsibility for what happened and was jailed after pleadingguilty to charges of kidnapping and assault with intent to injure.
He was sentenced to two years and six months in jail, theChristchurch Court News website reported.
Defence counsel Gilbert Hay said Boettcher had no history ofoffending in Australia or New Zealand and could give no explanationfor the attack.
Prosecutor Kathy Basire said the attack had a severe effect on thevictim, who had nightmares and difficulty sleeping and could not gooutside alone.
The court heard Boettcher had crossed the road to follow the womanand had put her in a headlock, lifting her up and dragging hertowards a building.
She was held against a wall and her hair was pulled before apasser-by noticed what was going on, and she escaped.
Judge Stephen Erber said courts would not tolerate such behaviour,although he noted Boettcher's guilty plea meant his anxious victimdid not have to give evidence in court.