A defence lawyer has stood up in court blamed the severely bruised and traumatised female victim of a violent assault for what happened to her.

Norman George’s defence sparked concern yesterday: “It is simply not acceptable to blame the victim,” said respected women’s counsellor Rebeka Buchanan.

Yesterday, Morey Junior Vati was convicted and sentenced to six months imprisonment for assaulting a female.

The woman had been out for a walk along the Avarua seawall at 6.40 in the morning on March 10, when he drove past her.

Justice of the Peace Georgina Williams said the victim saw Vati drive past her with a loaf of bread; she was shocked to see him come back without the bread. He grabbed her and pulled her towards the beach where he covered her mouth to stop her from screaming.

Williams said the young woman fought her off and ran towards a witness crying for help.

She suffered multiple bruises on her face, chest and elbow, as substantial force was applied during the assault.

Police prosecutor senior sergeant Fairoa Tararo said the assault had traumatised the victim and she still felt unsafe.

Defence lawyer Norman George had claimed that a week before the incident, Vati was assaulted outside a nightclub after the same woman complained he had pinched her outside the washroom.

According to George it was her complaint about Vati’s behaviour, that night, that led to the seawall assault. Vati had no intention to harm the woman, George claimed – it was a spontaneous move.

George said the complainant was responsible for provoking the assault on the defendant, who had lost his wallet, cash and mobile phone at the club.

Vati had no previous convictions and should not be jailed, he added.

Justice Williams said George’s claim about what happened at the nightclub was uncorroborated – the victim was never in the area of the alleged incident at the club.

She also rejected George’s claim that it was a spontaneous act.

Justice Williams said the victim had suffered mentally; she was scared for her life, deeply traumatised and unable to sleep at night.

She ordered that Vati serve an additional 12 months’ probation upon his release from jail.

Last night Rebeka Buchanan, coordinator of Punanga Tauturu Inc women’s counselling centre, had a message for Norman George: “He often does this. He can’t go around blaming victims to try to get his clients off. We need to make it clear that assault on women is not acceptable or justifiable.

“This woman is the victim, here. Her attacker needs to be held accountable for his action – for Norman to blame the victim is not legally or ethically acceptable.”