Man killed, brother hurt in Square stabbing

Press, 10 November 1986, Page 1

Man killed, brother hurt in Square stabbing

By

GRANT BRADLEY

Christchurch detectives seek two men in relation to an incident in Cathedral Square yesterday during which one man was stabbed, and later died, and his brother injured. The dead man was

Paul Tula, aged 23, who died of multiple stab wounds to the abdomen two hours after the fight. David Tuia, aged 25, was reported to be on the seriously ill list at Christchurch last evening after surgery for two stab wounds. Detective Senior-Ser-geant Alan Dalzell said that the police knew the identities of two men who were present when the fight took place and who could help with the investigation. “We know who they are but are not sure where they are,” he said. Checks of addresses where the pair were likely to be did not turn up anything yesterday. Two cars which the pair had access to were also sought, said Detective Senior-Sergeant Dalzell. “Inquiries are progressing very well,” he

said. The stabbing occurred outside the Doghouse take-away bar after a fight between a number of people had started inside the building and spilled out on to the footpath. Detective SeniorSergeant Dalzell said it was not certain how many people were involved in the initial fight or the stabbing. The incident lasted for 10 minutes and started about 5 a.m. It was not gang-related, said Detective Senior-Ser-geant Dalzell. Detectives were at the scene for most of yesterday searching for the knife used in the stabbing and combing the area for other evidence. A police cordon round the area was lifted at 4 p.m. when examinations had finished. No weapon was found. Detective Senior-Ser-

geant Dalzell said that two cars were taken from the scene, for forensic tests including one which was thought to havfe been driven by one of the men sought. A number of people who were at the scene had been interviewed although the police would like anyone else who was present to get in touch with them. The police are particularly keen to talk to a young Polynesian woman who was wearing a full-length fur coat and might have seen the fight. Mr David Tuia was interviewed in hospital yesterday afternoon, and detectives will talk to him again today. Twenty detectives were working on the inquiry, which was scaled down early last evening. A post-mortem examination of Paul Tuia will be made today.