Attackers still sought

Press, 4 October 1984, Page 9

Attackers still sought

The police have released an identikit picture (right) of one of the men who atacked a woman in the car-park of the Richmond Working Men’s Club last Saturday evening. The woman, aged 32, underwent surgery at Burwood Hospital after the attack, which left her with a broken nose, serious bruising, and cuts to the left cheek. She had recovered well enough by yesterday to give detectives a detailed des’cription of one of the two men who attacked her as she took a short cut through the car-park between 10.30 p.m. and 10.35 p.m.

The man in the identikit picture punched and kicked the woman, and slashed her in the face with a razorblade cutter. He is described as a tall European of slim build. He was wearing jeans and is thought to be in his early 20s. The woman did not get a good look at the other man, whom she said was a Maori.

She had just visited a friend, and was walking the 300 m home when she was

attacked. Detectives believe the motive for the attack was robbery. The woman was carrying a box containing fruit and ice-cream. There was no evidence of a sexual motive.

The attack lasted up to four minutes, and at least six other people are known to have been in the car-park at the time. The woman screamed for help, but no-one intervened. Detective Michael Kyne yesterday criticised those people who saw the attack but did nothing about it.

“The woman was minding her own business, innocently walking home, when she was attacked within 50 metres of the club building and near houses. She screamed, but no-one even phoned the police,” he said.

Attacks on women were becoming prevalent in Christchurch, but the police had little chance of combating them unless they were informed immediately. “Quite often women are assaulted on footpaths within metres of houses. They scream, but they are ignored.” Detective Kyne said that the police were concerned about public apathy towards street crimes.

“People have to start getting involved. If someone phones the police to report screaming, we can get a car there straight away, and have a better chance of catching the offender,” he said.

The description of the man in the identikit picture has been confirmed’ by a woman who telephoned the police after reading a report of the attack in “The Press.”

She was leaving the club with her husband and they both saw the scuffle from a. distance. They did not want to get involved, and so continued walking to their car. They heard screams as they drove away. Detective Kyne said the attack was particularly sinister because it appeared the two men had been waiting in ambush for a victim. After breaking away from her assailants, the woman managed to continue the 100 metres to her home. Her family took her to hospital, where staff informed the police.

Detective Kyne said that by the time the police had interviewed the woman at the hospital, and a car had been sent to the Richmond Working Men’s Club, more than half an hour had elapsed since the attack. , Club patrons had left, and detectives faced a hopeless task of piecing together details of the incident.

The police would still like to hear from anyone who saw the attack, or who thinks they recognise the man in the identikit picture.