Actor Brooklyn Nathan Sentenced for Vicious Road Rage Attack

Key Takeaways

• Brooklyn Nathan, a former child actor, was sentenced to 7 months of home detention for a road rage attack in South Auckland.
• The attack occurred on January 19, 2024, after Nathan’s mother pulled out into oncoming traffic, causing a collision with a Toyota hatchback.
• Nathan punched the Toyota driver in the eye, causing a fractured eye socket, hemorrhaging, and bruising, and the victim still suffers from debilitating double vision.
• The Crown submitted that home detention was the most appropriate sentence, given the serious nature of the assault and resulting injuries.
• Nathan’s lawyer argued for community detention and intensive supervision, citing Nathan’s employment and rehabilitation efforts.

Introduction to the Incident
The incident occurred on January 19, 2024, in the Auckland suburb of Goodwood Heights, when Nathan’s mother, Innes Clark, pulled out into oncoming traffic on Redoubt Rd, causing a collision with a Toyota hatchback. The white Land Rover, which Nathan and Clark were in, struck the side of the Toyota, and the driver of the Toyota was able to maneuver his vehicle away from oncoming traffic. The Toyota driver then approached Nathan and his mother to check if anyone was hurt and obtain their insurance details.

The Assault
While Clark and the Toyota driver were talking, Nathan became increasingly agitated, swearing and blaming the complainant for the accident. Despite Clark telling her son to stop, Nathan continued to swear at the Toyota driver, and when the driver began to call 111, Nathan punched him in the eye. The victim held up his hands to protect his face from a barrage of punches to his head, face, and arms, which knocked him to the ground. Nathan’s mother shouted at him to stop, but he continued to assault the victim, punching him in the face again and knocking him back to the ground, causing his nose to bleed profusely.

The Aftermath
The victim was taken to Middlemore Hospital with a fractured eye socket, hemorrhaging of the blood vessels in the left eye, and bruising to the face and back of the head. He underwent surgery four days after the assault and, almost two years later, continues to suffer from debilitating double vision and has ongoing medical appointments for his injuries. Nathan claimed he had acted in self-defense, but the Crown submitted that home detention was the most appropriate sentence, given the serious nature of the assault and resulting injuries.

The Sentencing
The Crown submitted that a starting point of two-and-a-half years’ imprisonment was appropriate, but Nathan’s lawyer argued for community detention and intensive supervision, citing Nathan’s employment and rehabilitation efforts. The judge gave Nathan a sentence starting point of two years’ imprisonment, then granted a 40% discount for Nathan’s guilty plea, youth, and rehabilitative efforts, resulting in a sentence of 14 months. This brought Nathan below the two-year threshold for the judge to consider home detention, and he was sentenced to 7 months’ home detention.

The Victim’s Impact Statement
A victim impact statement read by the judge said the victim experiences moments of anxiety, especially when younger adults approach him. He still has double vision in his lower field of vision and has difficulties driving at night. The victim’s statement highlighted the ongoing impact of the assault on his life and well-being. Nathan’s lawyer submitted that his client had offered to attend restorative justice, but the victim declined, and he had completed more than 200 hours of community work. Nathan had also offered to pay a $5000 emotional harm payment to the victim.

Conclusion
The sentencing of Brooklyn Nathan to 7 months of home detention reflects the serious nature of the assault and the ongoing impact on the victim’s life. The case highlights the importance of considering the victim’s perspective and the need for rehabilitation and restorative justice in sentencing decisions. Nathan’s actions on that day had severe consequences, and it is hoped that his sentence will provide some measure of justice and closure for the victim.