Car occupants sought after cyclist’s death

Press, 5 March 1988, Page 5

Car occupants sought after cyclist’s death

The young occupants of a blue medium-size car ■are sought by the police for questioning about a serious bicycle accident on Dyers! Pass Road in ’ January.

. Simon Mackie, aged 31, of Hoon Hay Road, appeared to have missed a tight corner on his bicycle and struck an earth bank. He suffered serious injuries, and died in Burwood Hospital last Tuesday.

Senior Constable Marty Fitzsimons, of the Christchurch police, said the blue car was known to be following Mr Mackie down Dyers Pass Road, on the Governor's Bay side.

The car was believed to have three or four occupants. I Mr Mackie came off his bicycle about 6 p.m. on January 16, about 900 m from the summit.

He had cycled up Dyers Pass Road from the Christchurch side and paused briefly at the top before beginning the descent. Constable Fitzsimons said the police were also keen to speak to a nurse who gave first aid to Mr Mackie for about 15 minutes before the arrival of an ambulance.

Karate expert A man who allegedly tried to smash a sherry bottle over a pedestrian’s head discovered his victim was a karate exponent. I

The incident happened in Gloucester Street on Thursday, about 10.30 p.m. .

Detective Sergeant Kieran Kortegast said the would-be victim believed the man who came up behind him intended striking him on the head wdth the bottle.

He allegedly fended off a blow from the bottlewielding man and overpowered him. The man with the bottle, who appeared in the District Court yesterday charged with assault with intent to injure, required several stitches to the face.

He was also charged with obstructing the police.

Stolen car

A stolen Hillman Hunter car was driven into a power pole in New Brighton early yesterday.

The car was found in Bower Avenue about 3 a.m.

It had been taken from near the corner of Keyes Road and Hawke Street, New Brighton, some time after 8 p.m. on Thursday.

Cars stolen j Two cars were < stolen from Christchurch on Thursday night and set alight. A Fiat 128 was ! stolen about 8 p.m. from Oxford Terrace, near its intersection with Gloucester Street. It was found at: 3 a.m. on Friday on Gebbies Pass Road, near the Sign of the Bellbird. The car was destroyed.

A 1977 Ford Fairmont, stolen from Caprice Motor Court, in Ferry Road, was discovered burnt-out beside the Old Waimakariri Road about 1.50 a.m.

Detective Sergeant Kortegast said the thieves drove the car through the security chains at the car yard. The car’s registration plates, IK 1518,! were removed before it was set alight. They have not been found. Man arrested A man seen acting suspiciously near the Sydenham Service Station on Thursday evening was arrested for attempted robbery. Detective Sergeant Kortegast said an attendant at the service station saw a man apparently hiding behind a vehicle in a nearby car yard. | | The attendant telephoned the police, who found the man in the yard. He allegedly had i with him a loaded gas-operated airgun. The man was'arrested for attempted robbery of the service station, having his face masked! by night and having the airgun with intent to commit robbery. Cannabis search A 10-day | cannabis search in the! country areas round Christchurch was completed on Thursday, but the police are not disclosing the size of the haul.

However, the Christchurch rural district commander, Chief Inspector Peter Coster, called it a success and said the finds had justified the search.

The search' took in country between the Conway and Rangitata rivers. It included the, Ashburton sub-district, the LytteltonBanks Peninsula sub-dis-trict, the Hornby area, Rangiora and North Canterbury. ;

Chief Inspector Coster said the search was finished but inquiries were continuing. i He said one person would be charged with a cannabis offence. He was hopeful of further arrests.