Police investigating Saturday night's serious assault of a married couple in Onehunga would like to speak to 3 people who were seen with the offender just minutes before he viciously attacked the couple.
"I'm pleased to say we're making solid progress with our investigation. Just before the attack, the offender was seen on the corner of Felix Street and Mt Smart Road. He was with two females and a male and was seen talking with them" says Detective Senior Sergent Paul Newman, Auckland City Police.
"While we don't know what their association with the offender is, we need them to come forward so they can be eliminated from our enquiry and hopefully provide us with assistance" says Det Snr Sgt Newman.
Enquiries have also established that in the hour after the attack, the burnt-orange/brown Toyota Vitz car that the offender stole from the victims has been seen in the Randwick Park area.
"We believe that the offender has picked up passengers. As we said yesterday, whether they know or not about the vicious assault that the offender has just committed is something we need to ask them about. We're also asking people in the Randwick Park area to think back about whether they saw that car, which is quite distinctive, in the area at around 10.30pm on Saturday night" says Mr Newman.
The couple's stolen car was recovered by Police in Jack Browne Place in Otahuhu last night, following information from the public. It is possible that it has been dumped there since 10.30am on Sunday morning and Police are seeking sightings of it in the 12 hours between 10.30pm Saturday night and the following morning.
The victims are still recovering from their ordeal. They have expressed their appreciation at the support the media is giving the case by way of publicity, but understandably, they are very traumatised and do not wish to give any interviews at this time and ask that the media respect their privacy, by not contacting them or their family members any further at this stage.
ENDS
Beth Bates/NZ Police