Dad gets "community work" for assaulting 11-month-old, 2-year-old sons and two police officers (Petone, New Zealand)

Headline is totally misleading. Dad ABRAHAM AMARU didn't just "slap" two kids. He repeatedly hit two very young children in the head while in a drunken rage. And then he assaulted the two police officers who tried to arrest him. And for all that, he gets "community work" 'cause he's really really sorry and wants to be a "better father."

Where's my barf bag when I need it?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/5555783/Petone-father-sentenced-for-slapping-son

Petone father sentenced for slapping sons
Last updated 14:12 02/09/2011

A father of two young boys has been given community work for slapping his two-year-old and 11-month-old around the head in a drunken rage.

When police arrived to stop him, he assaulted two of them, taking the pepperspray off one constable before getting a faceful of the spray himself.

Abraham Amaru, 24, of Petone, had pleaded guilty to two charges of assault with intent to injure and two of assault on police.

His partner, who he is now separated from, is pregnant with their third child.

Wellington District Court judge Peter Hobbs said Amaru had arrived home on May 20 drunk and aggressive. He dragged his two-year-old son off the couch by his hair and slapped him around the face before dropping him on to a mattress.

''The boy was screaming in pain.'' the judge said.

Amaru then slapped his 11-month-old son who was crying in fright.

''You told him to shut up and then struck him twice around the face and head.''

His partner called the police after pleading with him to leave the children alone.

The judge said when the police arrived, Amaru grabbed the pepperspray off one constable before punching her in the head. He was then peppersprayed by the other officer before being subdued.

''When they asked you why you hit your children you said 'so what, thats how I was brought up."

Judge Hobbs said New Zealand had a terrible record of child abuse and he would have thought that Amaru having been abused himself would have helped him realise what an indelible mark it could leave for the future.

He sentenced him to 180 hours community work and a year's intensive supervision.

''You started drinking and you could not stop. You drunk to excess and was aggressive. You wanted to hit something and unfortunately it was your children you decided to hit,'' the judge said.

Amaru's lawyer Daniel Vincent said Amaru had not been coping with his responsibilities as a father and needed to learn how to.

He said Amaru wanted to be a better father to his children.