New Zealand / Court

19yo to serve rest of manslaughter sentence on home detention

17:33 pm on 13 December 2023
Mark Nagel

Mark Nagel Photo: RNZ / Anna Sargent

A teenager jailed for the manslaughter of a man after an attack outside the Christchurch Ballantynes department store will serve the rest of his sentence on home detention.

Mark Nagel, 19, killed Anthony Kelly, 61, with a martial arts-style kick to the head in Cashel Street in October 2022.

Nagel pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge in May, and in October this year was sentenced to two years in prison with leave to apply for home detention.

Justice Rachel Dunningham granted his application at the High Court on Wednesday, after Nagel had been in jail seven months.

She said he had completed personal development courses and had undergone counselling.

"He's demonstrated his willingness to engage in rehabilitation in the community," she said.

Nagel's home detention sentence is five months.

Its conditions include not entering the Christchurch central business district and not contacting the people he was with when he offended.