A 39-year-old man is in the intensive care unit at Dunedin
Hospital with fractures to his skull, neck and possibly his
spine after he was "brutally" attacked in a quiet residential
area of the city yesterday morning.
It is one of four serious assaults at the weekend - two in
Dunedin and two in Invercargill - being investigated by
police.
Acting Senior Sergeant Nathan White, of Dunedin, said the
victim was in a critical condition last night, after he was
allegedly assaulted by a 31-year-old Dunedin man on Rawhiti
St, in Musselburgh, about 6am.
Acting Sen Sgt White said the victim was on the street when
he was allegedly punched and stomped on. Police believe the
two are known to each other, but it is unclear what sparked
the assault.
"It's a particularly brutal assault." The 31-year-old man was
taken into custody yesterday. Police expected to lay charges
this morning when the victim's condition had been reassessed,
Acting Sen Sgt White said.
Anyone who witnessed the incident was encouraged to contact
Dunedin police.
Police were also investigating the sexual assault of a
19-year-old woman on Montgomery Ave, near the University of
Otago, yesterday morning.
Detective Sergeant Dave Nelson said the woman was walking
from the central city to her home in north Dunedin, and while
walking along Albany St she noticed a man acting suspiciously
in a red vehicle.
"This vehicle has made two approaches towards the female.
The vehicle was last seen on Albany St," he said.
The woman continued to walk through the university area into
Montgomery Ave where she was grabbed from behind.
Det Sgt Nelson said she was sexually assaulted between 3am
and 3.30am by a male offender in Montgomery Ave near the
intersection with Dundas St. The offender then ran off.
Police described the offender as having a strong Pacific
Island accent, about 176cm tall, with a moustache, and of
large build.
"A number of people are believed to have been walking in the
university campus area around this time and police would like
to hear from anyone in the area at the time, or who may have
seen a male or red car, acting suspiciously," Det Sgt Nelson
said.
Police are also investigating two serious assaults in
Invercargill at the weekend.
Senior Sergeant MaggieWindle, of Invercargill, said a
36-year-old man was stabbed in the head several times
allegedly during an altercation at an Earn St house, leaving
him with head injuries.
The incident happened about 9am yesterday.
The victim was treated at Southland Hospital and later
discharged.
A 24-year-old man, known to the victim, would appear in
Invercargill District Court today facing assault-related
charges.
Police were also investigating a serious assault in Nelson
St, early yesterday in which a female and two males were
injured following an altercation with another man.
Snr Sgt Windle said a variety of weapons were allegedly used
during the assault, leaving one of the men with serious
facial injuries.
He was taken to Southland Hospital in a serious condition
while the other two required minor treatment.
A 50-year-old Invercargill man is in police custody but no
charges have been laid, she said.
-john.lewis@odt.co.nz
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