As investigations into the serious injuries suffered by a Hamilton business owner in a City bar continue, Police and his family ask festive season revellers to consider their drinking, with excessive alcohol consumption playing a major part in Friday's incident.
Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Greene of the Waikato CIB said 55-year-old Trevor Cochrane remains in an induced coma in Waikato Hospital's Intensive Care Unit with serious head injuries.
"Mr Cochrane suffered his injuries after he was struck in the head by a large glass jug allegedly thrown by another patron in the Still Working Bar in Lynden Court on Friday night.
"A 23-year-old man appeared in the Hamilton District Court yesterday in relation to this incident on a charge with wounding with reckless disregard and was bailed to reappear on the 28th of January."
Because the matter is currently before the courts, Mr Greene said Police are limited in what else they can say in relation to the incident."
"Despite widespread media coverage of what happened, a number of people believed to have been in or at the bar at the time of the incident still had not come forward and we would ask that those who were present, who have not already spoken to Police, make contact with us."
That appeal for witnesses to come forward has been echoed by Mr Cochrane's family who say they are struggling to come to terms with has happened.
Spokesman Matthew Bloxham said Friday night was supposed to be about celebrating Christmas with loved ones and workmates but instead his family are left with a father and partner fighting for his life.
"Trevor is a warm, friendly but private person who would shy away from all the publicity if he was in a position to do so.
"He is a really independent, hard working kiwi bloke who had been at the bar to celebrate the festive season with his family, workers and friends. It is characteristic of who he is that he has suffered these injuries trying to do the right thing and stop what was occurring."
In asking that their privacy be respected, Mr Bloxham, said his family not only wanted anyone with any information to come forward to Police but they wanted to ensure other families didn't have to be put through what they were going through.
"Friday night's incident happened when people had been drinking, some to excess. We're asking people to look what has happened to Trevor and prevent it happening to them or their loved ones.
"When people drink, one wrong word or action can have irreversible consequences and we ask all those people out there to think how they drink least they too have to face what our family are facing now."
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