Motive for attack mystifies police

Press, 1 August 1989, Page 7

Motive for attack mystifies police

By

NEIL CLARKSON

Detectives remain baffled about the motive for the 15minute fatal beating of a Christchurch man in Auckland’s Big King Reserve last Thursday evening.

The attack left Gregory Chapman, aged 23, brain dead. He died early on Saturday after medical staff at Auckland Hospital turned off life-support systems. His father, Mr Simon Chapman, had arrived from Christchurch to see his son only hours earlier. Detective Senior-Ser-geant Brian Kemp said the police, were still trying to find a motive. Robbery did not appear to be a motive as Mr Chapman’s wallet containing $l5O was untouched, he said. Detective Senior-Ser-geant Kemp said the police had found nothing in Mr Chapmans past

which could be linked to the attack. The officer heading the inquiry, Detective Inspector lan Hastings, said the police had not yet established whether the attack was planned. “It is still too early to make an assessment as to why it happened. “However, it is quite clear that anyone doing the bashing wanted to kill Mr Chapman.’’ A team of detectives has been assigned to canvass every house within five blocks of the reserve. Mr Chapman had been drinking in inner city hotels with friends on the evening of the attack. He was given a ride

towards his home by the driver of a Holden car, whom he had known for the last two years. The car was filmed by a security camera leaving an Auckland car-park at 9.14 p.m. — about 40 minutes before the attack. The police have questioned the driver, who said he could not remember where he had dropped Mr Chapman, but it was at a spot requested by Mr Chapman, about 2km from his home. “We have no idea where it was,” said Detective Senior-Sergeant Kemp. “He says he was too drunk to remember." The multi-coloured rusty car was dissplayed

in Three Kings yesterday in a bid to spur the memories of residents who may have seen it. Several sightings have been reported and the police hope to piece together the car’s movements. The police are also appealing for information about a length of timber just metres from the reserve which a motorist swerved to avoid while driving to work about 9 a.m. on Friday. A search has been unsuccessful. An elderly man who saw the attack described the weapon as a flat piece of material. It is not yet know if it was wood.