Two men stabbed during gang brawl at Temuka

Press, 28 May 1979, Page 1

Two men stabbed during gang brawl at Temuka

PA Timaru Two men were stabbed at Temuka on Saturday evening in what the Timaru police described as South Canterbury’s worst gang brawl. Pick handles, iron bars, bicycle chains, and knives were wielded in an outburst of violence outside a Temuka hotel. Between 40 and 50 youths from rival Christchurch and Timaru gangs were involved in the fight, which spread across the main street of Temuka about 9.20 p.m. A Maori gang member from Christchurch was stabbed in the stomach. A Timaru youth was wounded in the leg.

Both were admitted to the Timaru Hospital, and were reported to be in a comfortable condition. No other serious injuries were reported. Those injured are Christopher Pauro, aged 24, of Woodville Street, Christchurch, and Simon Patrick Wilson, aged 19, of Theodosia Street, Timaru.

Late yesterday no arrest had bean made. SeniorSergeant D. T. Crowe, of the Timaru police, said that intensive investigations were continuing in Christchurch and in Timaru. Police reinforcements were called in on Saturday evening to assist the three policemen on routine patrol in Temuka. The brawl lasted only a few minutes and the rival factions then

fled, leaving the street and footpaths, spattered with blood and littered with broken glass. The police pursued the Christchurch gang north, stopping the members near the northern outskirts of Temuka. The Timaru group was later located by the police at a house in Timaru. The man with the stomach wound was found when a car was stopped outside Temuka. A local doctor was called and the youth was taken by ambulance to the Timaru Hospital. The injured Timaru youth apparently sought shelter in a nearby restaurant and was also picked up by the ambulance. Fearing further violence during the night, the Christchurch armed offen-

ders squad and dog teams were called to Timaru as a precautionary measure. Dog-handlers and police dogs from Christchurch also helped track down members of the rival groups.

At one stage, there were •22 uniformed Timaru police, five detectives, and about 12 Christchurch police reinforcements involved. Senior-Sergeanf Crowe described the iiicident as “nasty,” and a serious confrontation between rival factions. The brawl started without warning and by the time reinforcements had arrived from Timaru the offenders had gone. A number of weapons were left lying in the street. The police later seized others.