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Offender Databases Matea Bates

Matea Norman Bates

Alias

.

Offences

Grievous bodily harm of Invercargill man Jeffery Cox in September 2005
A highly premeditated and totally unprovoked attack

Victims

.

Offender Affiliations

Sarn Grigsby

Gang affiliations

none known

Age

Born 1988

Current Location

Unknown

Parole/Release Dates

Sentenced to just two years six months in December 2005

Background
From the Southland Times, 15 December 2005
THE sentencing judge called it a "repeated, sustained, vicious, senseless and violent act" carrying one of the most serious violence charges New Zealand law has. In the Invercargill District Court yesterday, Judge Colin Doherty sentenced Sarn Kale Grigsby, 17, to seven years' jail and Matea Norman Bates, also 17, to two and a half years' jail for a brutal assault that left their victim with severe brain injuries on September 30. Judge Doherty said the men, who had been drinking and smoking cannabis were walking home in the early hours of the morning with four female associates.

About 3.30am, Jeffery Cox, who had been walking home intoxicated from town, appeared behind the group near the Otepuni Gardens, giving them a fright. Grigsby assaulted Mr Cox with punches and kicks before walking off. However, Mr Cox got up and the females were concerned he might follow them. The men went back. Judge Doherty said it was in this second attack that the men did their worst. Grigsby again punched the victim to the head, flattening him, before kicking him so hard his head lifted off the ground. Bates joined in, stomping the man until he lost consciousness. The men later said what happened to a friend, who checked on Mr Cox and called an ambulance from a nearby address.

However, Grigsby and Bates again returned to where Mr Cox lay. They thought he was dead but found he was still breathing so agreed to throw him in the Otepuni Stream, Judge Doherty said. But they could not clear the bridge's edge so dropped him on the grass near the bridge. They then stripped Mr Cox of his pants, cellphone, wallet and cash before leaving. Mr Cox was found by ambulance staff about 4.20am and was transferred by helicopter to Dunedin Hospital for treatment. Judge Doherty said Mr Cox was recovering but it would be at least another six months before the permanent effects of the brain injury could be assessed. The men were charged with grievous bodily harm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm because of the extreme premeditated violence of returning and attacking the head of a vulnerable victim.

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Corrections and Additional Information
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