Groom jailed for axe attack

By AARON LEAMAN - Waikato Times

Last updated 05:00 12/06/2010

An aggrieved groom – who had been in a swinging sexual relationship with a bridesmaid – cut loose with an ornamental axe on family members after he was caught kissing the woman on his wedding day.

Mark Spencer's parents now say they want nothing to do with the Huntly 39-year-old after his rampage left two family members with broken noses and others bruised and shaken.

Yesterday Spencer stood impassively in the Hamilton District Court as he was sentenced to five years' jail for the attack on February 13 this year.

Family members had gathered at Spencer's home to celebrate his wedding to his partner of 18 years when an argument developed between Spencer and his sister.

The pair began arguing after the ceremony when Spencer's sister caught him kissing a bridesmaid.

A summary of facts revealed Spencer and his wife were involved in a sexual relationship with the bridesmaid and her husband. The married couple were invited to be involved in the wedding, with the woman agreeing to be a bridesmaid.

Crown prosecutor Phillip Cornege said during the argument Spencer "lost the plot" and began punching his sister about the face.

Spencer's parents intervened and took the sister to a nearby car.

Spencer then confronted his family with an ornamental axe, shoving his mother to the ground and punching a concerned neighbour in the face.

He used the axe to strike his father on the head, saying he had wanted to do this for a long time.

Spencer's sister attempted to lie across her prone father as he was again struck by Spencer. Both the sister and Spencer's father suffered broken noses – with the latter also suffering permanent hearing loss in one ear.

Mr Cornege said Spencer appeared to have built up anger toward his family and used the occasion of a minor disagreement to unleash it "all at one go".

Spencer's parents now wanted nothing to do with their son, and his sister was still trying to come to terms with the incident.

Defence counsel Michael McIvor acknowledged the serious nature of the attack and the victims' injuries but said Spencer's actions were impulsive.

"He's frank enough to say he exploded."

Mr McIvor said Spencer had mental health issues and was on medication.

Spencer had entered early guilty pleas to charges of causing grievous bodily harm, possessing an offensive weapon, injuring with intent to injure and two counts of aggravated assault.

Judge Glen Marshall said Spencer's offending had severed his relationship with his family. They described the attack as "cowardly".

Spencer's spontaneous and extreme violence had caught family members unaware and left them struggling to defend themselves, the judge said.

From: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/3804685/Groom-jailed-for-axe-attack