Police Seeking Man Who Attacked Widow In Home

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30125, 8 May 1963, Page 17

Police Seeking Man Who Attacked Widow In Home

The police are searching for a young man who attacked and injured a 76-year-old widow in the central New Brighton area on Saturday night, and are seeking the cooperation of the public. The Chief Detective, Detective Senior-Sergeant C. G. Evans, said yesterday that the widow, who lives alone, heard a knocking at her front door about 9 p.m. on Saturday. She opened it, and found a man, aged 19 or 20. on the front doorstep. The man immediately attacked her, grabbing her by the throat and pushing her backwards down the passage after slamming the front door. He pushed her on to the floor, made an obscene gesture, and struck her with his fist. The assailant then threatened her, and sexually assaulted her after tearing some of her clothing. Detective Senior-Sergeant Evans said. The widow, surprisingly strong for her age,, fought her assailant and jabbed her finger in his left eye. The assailant ran from the house, pursued by the widow and jumped over the fence of a near-by property. The assailant was aged between 19 and 20, about sft 7in, with pale complexion and long dark hair hanging

over his face. He was wearing dark clothing and the widow said he was of “bodgie” appearance, Mr Evans said. “We have been inquiring into this unprovoked, brutal attack and our inquiries could be considerably curtailed with the help of the public. The assailant is most probably suffering from an eye injury, and if anyone has information concerning a youth answering generally to the description of the assailant, who has had a sore eye since Saturday, we would be most grateful to hear about it,” he said. “We have no reason to suspect that the assailant will attack any other woman, and there is no need, as far as our inquiries show, for a general alarm. Christchurch is, fortunately, relatively free from this type of crime.

“However, we have noticed in the past that the public are keen to assist when they learn of this kind of assault, and have been of great assistance on a number of occasions in catching ~ offenders of this type,” Mr Evans concluded.

He said that the quick apprehension of similar offenders in the past had played a big part in deterring other like-minded persons from making such attacks.