Taxi-driver attacked

Press, 26 January 1988, Page 9

Taxi-driver attacked

A Christchurch taxidriver was attacked and robbed of $6 during an incident in Linwood Avenue on Sunday evening. The taxi-driver suffered minor injuries after being struck several times on the head. The attack took place shortly after he had picked up a passenger at the Cathedral Square taxi rank at 10.45 p.m. The Maori or Pacific Islander,, in his early 20s, wore his right arm in a sling. He asked to be taken to Linwood Avenue where he handed his wallet to the driver and asked him to take the fare. As he did so, the driver was struck three times on the back of his head with a heavy object, possibly a plaster cast. He managed

to get out of the cab and run away. He returned a few minutes later to find that his attacker had disappeared with $6 in small change. The police are now looking for a man with a medium to stocky build and short, black, wavy hair. At the time of the incident he was wearing a dark jersey and jeans. They are also interested in interviewing a motorist who helped the taxidriver shortly after the attack. Investigations are also continuing into an attack on a motorist in Templeton on January 21. The driver had picked up a hitch-hiker who indicated that he wanted to travel to Timaru. When told that the motorist was

only travelling as far as the Selwyn Bridge, the hitch-hiker attempted to hijack the car, striking the driver in the face with his fist. The. driver defended himself and after a short struggle, the hitch-hiker got out of the car. As the driver tried to close the door, the hitch-hiker tried to kick his head, causing cuts to the man’s eye and eyelid. The police are now trying to locate a solidly built, male Caucasian with curly, collar length, brown hair. At the time of the attack the man was unshaven and wearing a navy blue, short sleeved shirt and green army, style trousers. He was carrying a brown backpack and spoke with an Australian accent.