Two Serious Assaults on the North Shore
New Zealand Police National News Release
10:17am 15 January 2008
http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release.html?id=3617
Police are investigating two serious assaults in the suburbs of Milford Beach and Takapuna on the North Shore overnight.
Police say that the first incident happened at about 1.30am this morning Tuesday 15 January 2008 when a male and a
female were parked in a Mercedes vehicle on the shoreline at Milford Beach.
An unidentified man has approached them and asked for a beer. After a brief conversation the man was joined by two other
males and the couple were then accosted and violently assaulted. A baseball bat has been used in the attack. The
attackers robbed them of personal belongings and then departed the scene.
The 20 year old female victim ran into the nearby reserve and then swam across the Milford marina where she has received
help from local residents in Beach Road. The 25 year old male victim has run to nearby homes at the beach but was unable
to wake any of the residents.
He then staggered more than 300 metres towards Omana Road before a police patrol vehicle en route to the scene has
discovered him.
Both victims are in North Shore Hospital with serious lacerations to the head and other injuries. Their condition is
described as stable. Further medical examinations will be necessary today.
Police want to hear from anyone who was in the vicinity of Milford Beach between 1.00am - 2.00am this morning and heard
or saw any suspicious activity.
Police say they are seeking three alleged offenders for this attack. The victims have given brief descriptions of two of
their attackers.
A male Caucasian with black hair
A male Maori/Pacific Island with a goatee beard.
No description of the third male available at this time.
Police have also released a description of their vehicle.
1988-89 Toyota 5 x door Hatchback.
Coloured Silver or Grey -
Police plan to talk further to both victims later today.
A forensic examination is being carried out at the scene and on the Mercedes vehicle in which the two victims were
seated.
The second incident happened at about 4.00am this morning Tuesday 15 January 2008. A female aged 20 years and her male
companion aged 25 years were walking along Lake Road, near Clifton Road.
They were at a location south of the BP station when a dark coloured vehicle with several male occupants pulled up
alongside them. The car came from the direction of Devonport and was heading towards Takapuna.
The couple were approached by one of the occupants and then physically attacked. Both were knocked unconscious. It is
not known whether any weapons were used in this attack. The female had her handbag taken during the incident.
The two victims were left lying on the roadside. They were discovered and assisted by a passing motorist before being
taken to North Shore Hospital by ambulance. Both victims have serious head injuries. The true status of these injuries
will be determined by further medical examinations to be carried out later today.
Police have not ruled out that both these assaults are linked. It is suspected that the group of males responsible were
travelling through the North Shore area either en route from or to Northland.
ENDS