North Shore Police are appealing for witnesses and information to an assault in the Strand car park in Takapuna in which a man was held in a headlock with a knife to his throat.
Sergeant Mal Wallace of Takapuna Police says, "The man and his two friends were fortunate to escape without stab wounds, as attempts by the man's friends to help him were prevented by the knife wielding offender making stabbing motions with the weapon."
At about 11.15pm on Friday 29th October 2004, the male victim and his two friends were in the Strand car park with their Subaru station wagon when they were approached by 3 men and a woman aged between 18 and 25 years.
One of the group of four, without any provocation approached the complainant in an aggressive manner and produced a large thin bladed knife from under his clothing. The victim was held in a headlock with the knife held at his throat and was at one stage punched in the face by a second offender.
After the victim and his friends managed to escape, they returned to their car to find the rear tyres had been slashed.
Sergeant Wallace says, "Police and the wider community are both proud that North Shore is one of the safest cities in New Zealand. Actions of a group like this aren't tolerated, so the public's help is being sought to identify the group."
Main offender description: Male Caucasian, 175 centimetres (approx. 5’10) tall, medium build with short spiky brown hair, clean shaven with possible stubble on his chin. He was wearing a long sleeve collared shirt with vertical thin stripes and jeans.
Second offender: Male Caucasian with dark, straight shoulder length hair. He was wearing a dark baseball cap with a silver logo on the front.
Woman associate: Caucasian of medium height and plump build. She has long dyed light brown to mousy blonde hair. She was wearing a dark skirt worn to the knee and dark stockings.
The remaining offender was unresponsive and kept some distance from the incident. He is described as a male Caucasian of medium build.
The victim suffered minor injuries and bruising from the attack. At this stage there is no clear motive for the attack.
Anyone with information should contact Sergeant Mal Wallace of Takapuna Police, 488 6264.