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ASHBURTON
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Wednesday, March 26, 2014
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THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF MID CANTERBURY
Cameras may hold clue to East St assault BY MYLES HUME
MYLES.H@THEGUARDIAN.CO.NZ
Video surveillance may be key to hunting down a group who attacked an Ashburton man still in Christchurch Hospital last night with a fractured skull and a brain bleed. The early-morning attack on the 31-year-old man outside Dick Smith Electronics on East Street was one of two alcohol-fuelled assaults during the weekend, resulting in both victims being hospitalised. Sergeant Bryan Ennis, of Ashburton, said police were speaking with key witnesses, and were viewing video footage from the East Street area. Mr Ennis said no link had been established between the two incidents. Detective Sergeant Jennifer Hooke said the East Street victim was walking with two others when four males from a group of six young people aged 18 to 20 ran across the road and confronted them. “There was a verbal exchange and a young male has then punched and pushed the victim
causing him to fall to the ground leaving him unconscious on the footpath,” she said. “He has sustained a serious head injury from the assault, resulting in two skull fractures and a brain bleed.” Police are interested in the driver of a late model silver four-door vehicle with distinctive mag wheels. This vehicle was in the area at the time. Safer Ashburton has two town ambassadors on duty from 10pm to 4am on Friday and Saturday nights to assist police and promote positive behaviour. Manager Kevin Clifford hoped once the council imposed new local alcohol policies (LAP), violence would reduce in Ashburton. “I think the local alcohol policy is the document that looks at changes we can put in place, so we have something coming that might have the ability to alter some of the occurrences and alcohol-related harm.” The draft LAP, expected to be adopted soon, currently includes a 2am closing for all pubs and clubs, with a one-way door
Video cameras on East Street may have captured the vicious assault last weekend.
policy applying after 1am for urban bars. Off-licence sales would be restricted to between 8am and 11pm. Mr Clifford said Safer Ashburton asked for more lighting in the CBD as part of its LAP submission. Ph 03 307 7900 to subscribe!
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