Vicious assault in Waiouru

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 485, 11 May 1993, Page 6

Vicious assault in Waiouru

BY

CONSTABLE CHRIS

SCALES

• A serious assault occurred outside the Truck Stop in Waiouru on Saturday morning, just after midnight. A soldier was assaulted by two men, who then chased him towards the Dragon and Phoenix Restaurant where he was assaulted again and rendered semiconcious. He suffered serious facial injuries and was hospitalised at Palmerston North where he may have to undergo an operation. The two offenders are described as male Maoris aged between 16 and 20. One was wearing a white tee-shirt with 'Red Hot Chillie Peppers' written on it. The other was wearing a black leather jacket. These two offenders were believed to be at the Waiouru Rugby Clubrooms earlier in the evening. Were you there? Did you see these two men? A number of people were in the Truck Stop when the assault occurred and would have seen this happen. There also would have been a number of people around that evening that may have

seen something. Witnesses have so far been very helpful, but we would like to speak to as many people as we can to help identify* the assailants and also those who may have witnessed the assault. Particularly the occupants of a white hatchback motor-vehicle parked in front of the victim's car at the time of the assault. Both vehicles were parked outside the Truck Stop. We would also like to identify and speak to the young lady in the 'Panthers' track-suit that assisted another soldier in carrying the injured victim back to his car. Any information on this incident would be appreciated. A little time on your behalf to come and see us may help to solve this nasty crime. • In the last couple of weeks, two local men were arrested. A 19-year-old was arrested for shoplifting at the Military Camp AGI, and a 22-year-old man was arrested for a burglary in Nelson late last year. Both will appear in court later this month. • A ladies-10-speed red Healing Skylark

bicycle was found in a garage at the rear of a house in Ranui Road last Monday. We would like to give it T)ack to its owner. • Last Thursday, emergency services from Waiouru and Turangi turned out to a nasty motor vehicle accident about 35 kilometres north on the Desert Road. A vehicle travelling north lost control and sailed airborne over a ditch, hitting a bank with such force that the vehicle was thrown back over the ditch, landing upside down in the centre of the road. The young woman dri**or, the only occupant, was very lucky not to have been killed. She suffered moderate injuries and was taken to hospital.

• There was another lucky escape for a truckie travelling south on the Desert Road when he came upon a herd of about 30 wild horses at the top of dump hill. One horse was hit and seriously injured, causing about $3,000 of damage to the truck. The horse was destroyed by a passing member of the public. • We know that there are still a large number of people around in possession of MSSA firearms who have not yet applied for a class E firearm licence endorsement. The deadline for applying for this licence expired on 30 April. However, we will still accept applications for a Class E endorsement until the end of this month. You must

surrender your MSSA firearm to the Police until your Class E endorsement is approved. There has been plenty of time to get this matter attended to and there has been enough publicity. As from next month, we will be checking up on all those registered as having an MSSA. If you have made no effort to obtain your class E licence, your firearm will be seized and you may face serious charges. Please give this matter urgent attention and get in touch with us at the station. • On a lighter note, those who are looking for a partner to go duck shooting with, are advised not to ask Constable Peter Thomas. Peter tends to render a good duck pond useless,

as he tries to retrieve his ducks using a new never before seen in New Zealand, special breed of gun dog. This dog takes about an hour at a time to retrieve, much to the delight of his fellow-

shooters, whose raucous laughter frightens away every duck in the district. The dog ranger wants to know if you have registered your fishing line with the piece of wood at the end, yet Pete?