NZ Police CommCens Alert 20:15 20-05-2006 Wellington

Location of incident: Wellington

Incident Type: Wellington Stabbing

PRESS RELEASE:

Wellington Stabbing

Wellington Police are appealing for witnesses to an unprovoked and random stabbing which occurred in Manners St, Wellington at about 8.15pm Saturday 20 May 2006.

The 25 year old victim was walking along Manners St towards Manners Mall when a male walked past him outside the Paris Texas clothing store. As he passed him he felt a thud in the side of his back, when he turned to ask him what the problem was the man was pointing a knife at him.

Not wanting to become involved in a confrontation with the man the victim walked away and it was only when he felt something dripping down his back that he realised he had been stabbed. He was subsequently taken to Wellington hospital where he was treated for a knife wound to his back. He was later discharged and is recovering at home.

The offender is described as a 6ft tall Maori or Polynesian, he was of slim build aged in his late teens or early 20's. He was wearing a brown or tan coloured sweatshirt and a hat of some description.

Another man was noticed standing close by the offender at the time, he was a male caucasian 5'8-9" tall of stocky build. He had a shaved head and was of a similar age to the offender. He was wearing a black leather jacket.

Police urgently want to speak to this man as well as anyone else who was in the Manners Mall area at this time and who may have seen the stabbing or anyone fitting the above descriptions.

Police are also investigating a further incident involving a knife prior to the stabbing.

At about 7.15pm outside the Quick-E-Mart in the Oaks complex on Dixon St a male used a knife to damage the advertising sign outside the Quick-E-Mart before turning his attention to a red older style utility driving past on Dixon St.

The offender approached this vehicle and stabbed at it several times before he and his friends walked off towards Te Aro Park.

The offender was a tall skinny Maori or Polynesian wearing a white Adidas jacket. One of his friends was a male Maori or Polynesian of similar height and build wearing a tan coloured sweatshirt and the other a short female Maori wearing a white top and carrying a bright pink handbag.

These three individuals have been spoken to by police however witnesses to the incident are urged to come forward.

Police are investigating the possibility that this incident is related to the later stabbing outside Paris Texas.

ENDS

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