A ruling by a District Court Judge that saw a man guilty of domestic violence charges walk free without conviction has been described as strange by a law expert. 

In April, Judge Phillipa Cunningham opted for discharge without conviction for an Auckland man who beat his wife with a hammer.

A High Court Judge overturned that decision in August, saying it was plainly wrong.

The man is awaiting sentence.

Canterbury University law professor Chris Gallavin told Larry Williams while the law doesn't dictate what kinds of offending can be considered, it's typically used for more minor offending such as cannabis possession.

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