Hesi Posted October 3, 2021 Share Posted October 3, 2021 This is shocking Ōtorohanga homicide: Road rage was cause of Waikato axe attack, police say 4 Oct, 2021 06:06 AM4 minutes to read Police were called to Maniapoto St around 6.30pm to reports of a large group of people fighting. Photo / Google NZ Herald By: Craig Kapitan and Tom Dillane Police say road rage appears to have prompted a gruesome daylight axe attack in a Waikato town that has resulted in the death of a 34-year-old Te Kuiti man. No arrests have yet been made but police say they have now located two vehicles of interest and they do not believe the groups were known to each other prior to the incident. Police were called to Maniapoto St, one of Ōtorohanga's main roads, around 6.30pm on Saturday. A witness told the Herald he saw two patched gang members hit the man with an axe, causing him to collapse, as families looked on in horror. "This was an incredibly violent attack in a very public place, and we want to let our Ōtorohanga community know we're clearly focused on identifying and locating those involved," Waikato police Detective Inspector Graham Pitkethley said in a statement. Police have not yet revealed the man's identity, adding that they expect to do so after a post-mortem examination on Monday. A person who knew the man but asked not to be identified described him as a good, hard-working person. "He had his own business and was a father and left kids behind and a wife," the person told the Herald. "He was a very positive role model in the neighbourhood." Police remain at the scene today as the investigation continues, with a section of Maniapoto St at State Highway 3 cordoned off and closed to traffic. Authorities have urged anyone with information about the incident to contact them - either by calling 105 and quoting file number 211002/2797 or calling Crime Stoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111. A witness told the Herald yesterday he pulled over after noticing a fight unfold outside the Mobil service station. "It was these two gang members and they were attacking this [man] with an axe," he said. "They hit him on the head and it just dropped him cold and they just took off. Pretty shocking really." The witness told the Herald that the gang members fled in a white Rodeo ute. A friend of the victim was also on the scene, the witness said. "He was with his mate, he had a motocross bike on the back [of their vehicle], they looked like they had just been out for the weekend sort of thing," he explained. "He didn't get involved, he stepped back. They had an axe so I don't really blame him. They had their patches on and everything. Just your classic sort of thug." The witness said he then got out of his car to assist the badly injured man who he says was wearing high-vis clothing and didn't look like a gang member. "I got out and ran back down and there was a young family there and a couple of other people," the witness said. "I stopped actually and tried to get that guy on his side. Get him in the recovery position," the witness said. "There was a fair bit of blood [but] it actually didn't look that bad. I sort of thought he'd bounce back. "I thought he was knocked out, I thought he'd come back." Police were called to Maniapoto St around 6.30pm to reports of a large group of people fighting. The witness said within about five minutes of the attack numerous carloads of people had turned up who seemed to know the man and were getting very angry. "There were a few people around and then it all sort of kicked off," the witness said. "It looked like all his family and all his mates were coming down and they were spewing, they were smashing **** on the ground and yelling and I thought I'm just going to get out of here," the witness said. "People knew him in the area I think a phone call got put out. Within five minutes like 10 carloads of people had pulled up." The witness said the incident did not reflect the town of Ōtorohanga. Hours after the Ōtorohanga incident, Waikato police were also called last night to a shooting incident in Paeroa, about 120km away. A man was airlifted via Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter to Waikato Hospital for injuries described by police as minor. Authorities said he suffered a firearms-related injury around 9pm at a Paeroa address. "Police inquiries are ongoing to understand the circumstances and identify those involved," a police spokesperson told the Herald. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hesi Posted October 4, 2021 Author Share Posted October 4, 2021 Over 42,000 donated in just over a day https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/tragic-event-a-life-lost-by-horrific-circumstances 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maximus Posted October 4, 2021 Share Posted October 4, 2021 No doubt another case to be characterised by thugs getting away with murder because this Government and the judicial system do not punish serious crime with serious sentences. A murder charge will get downgraded to manslaughter; 5-7 years sentence, out in 2 1/2 years and free to do it all over again. Next, please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honest john Posted October 14, 2021 Share Posted October 14, 2021 On 10/5/2021 at 12:40 PM, Maximus said: No doubt another case to be characterised by thugs getting away with murder because this Government and the judicial system do not punish serious crime with serious sentences. A murder charge will get downgraded to manslaughter; 5-7 years sentence, out in 2 1/2 years and free to do it all over again. Next, please. Sadly that is true, look at border crossings, two asians the latest, just a warning, he’ll I’d lock them up. hj 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hesi Posted October 14, 2021 Author Share Posted October 14, 2021 Just updating, the Givealittle page has got to $80,000.....that's good 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honest john Posted October 14, 2021 Share Posted October 14, 2021 7 minutes ago, Hesi said: Just updating, the Givealittle page has got to $80,000.....that's good Wow, I gave to a page recently for the first time. There are some worthy cases out there. And some not. hj 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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