Location: Tory Street, Wellington District: Wellington

Police are appealing for witnesses and information concerning a stabbing that occurred at about 5:40am on Thursday 8th October 2009 outside the Sports Bar on Tory Street, Wellington.

The 23 year old male victim and his friend were walking on Tory Street when they were approached by a Maori or Polynesian male.

An argument developed and the offender used a pocket knife to swipe at the victim's friend, but missed. The friends ran in opposite directions but the victim was rugby tackled by one of a group of males, who held him to the ground.

Wellington Detective Sergeant Damian Murphy said, "The group appears to be associated to the offender. One member of that group held the victim on the ground while the offender repeatedly stabbed the victim in the head and back."

The victim suffered multiple deep stab wounds. The injuries are serious and were initially viewed to be life threatening. He has since responded well to medical treatment and is in a stable condition in hospital.

The offender who stabbed the victim is described as:

Male Maori. Approximately 25yrs old with short hair. Smaller than 174cm tall. Quite a round, almost chubby face, clean shaven possibly with bucked teeth. Possibly wearing a hooded sweatshirt. A black cap worn backwards on his head.

The male who rugby tackled the victim is described as Male Maori. Approximately 19 years old.

Detective Sergeant MURPHY said, "There were a number of people in the area at the time. Police want to hear from these people and in particular, two females and a group of three or four males to come forward who were present during the stabbing and will have seen what happened".

A computerized sketch of the offender responsible for the stabbing has been prepared with the help of the victim of the stabbing.

Police want to hear from anyone who was in the Courtenay Place area during the early hours of Thursday morning who saw this offender either in a group of males, possibly with females, or who can identify this offender as someone they know.

The sketch is assessed as 80% accurate. The actual offender differs from the sketch in that the actual offender had buck teeth with a gap, skin of a darker complexion than is shown in the sketch and the cap which was worn backwards by the offender did not have a hole at the rear of the cap, as shown in the sketch.

Anyone who has information that could assist the enquiry can contact police on 0800 TIPOFF (0800 847 633).

ENDS

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