Police have interviewed a second suspect in relation to the kidnapping of a Cromwell man by a gang of skinheads.
The man was brutally attacked by masked assailants on Saturday before being bundled into a car, driven to Arrowtown and dumped on the roadside, police say.
Police yesterday released details of the early-morning incident near the Crown Range Rd intersection with State Highway 6, for which they are seeking offenders of "skinhead" appearance.
Detective Sergeant Brian Cameron, of Queenstown, said the 28-year-old victim and his 23-year-old girlfriend were encouraged to meet a person he knew at the intersection.
Once there, he was set upon by a group of mostly balaclava-clad men, two of whom were believed to have been carrying a machete and a meat cleaver, he said.
The man was subjected to "a sustained and brutal attack by the group, with a bladed weapon held to his throat, before he was bundled into the rear of the Toyota car and driven from the scene at high speed".
The vehicle stopped in Arrowtown, where the man was thrown out and left lying in the road, Det Sgt Cameron said.
The man was taken to Queenstown Lakes District Hospital and held overnight for observation, with a suspected concussion, multiple cuts and severe bruising about his head and body, he said.
The offenders, believed to be of European descent, were described as being relatively tall and slim with skinhead-style haircuts, Det Sgt Cameron said.
One man not wearing a balaclava wore a black T-shirt with the word "Misfits" on the front.
He was described as clean-shaven.
One person has been charged in relation to the attack and appeared in the Queenstown District Court yesterday.
Queenstown police yesterday afternoon revealed they had identified and spoken to a second person believed to have been present during the attack.
Det Sgt Cameron declined to comment on their gender, age or whether they were facing charges.
He was confident those involved would be brought to account and urged anyone involved in the "premeditated and cowardly attack" to get in contact at the first opportunity.
Police would still like to hear from anyone who may have seen a white four-door car with an emblem or sticker on the rear left passenger side window which was seen near the scene of the attack.
They also want to hear from anyone in the Chartres Green area of Arrowtown who saw or heard anything suspicious early on Saturday.
Rachel Maree Faul (20), receptionist, of Speargrass Flat, will reappear in the Queenstown District Court this week in relation to a violent attack and kidnapping near the Crown Range Rd early on Saturday.
She is charged with intending to commit a crime, namely assault by violent means, rendering Jason Wynyard incapable of resistance; unlawfully carrying off Mr Wynyard without his consent with intent to cause him to be confined; and driving a motor vehicle on State Highway 6 at a speed which having regard to the circumstances might have been dangerous to the public, all on November 26.
Judge Neave remanded her in custody without plea to Thursday.
