A 19 year-old Mangere East man is scheduled to appear in the Auckland District Court today charged with injuring with intent to injure. He was arrested shortly after 4am on Sunday after an 18 year-old man was allegedly seriously assaulted at the Viaduct Basin.
The victim is in hospital having sustained head injuries during what witnesses described as an unprovoked attack where he was knocked out and allegedly further assaulted while unconscious.
Police and ambulance services were called to the scene immediately and, after a short while, located the alleged offender and several associates nearby.
Auckland City CIB's Detective Tony Turner says it's understood both parties had been drinking prior to the altercation and encountered eachother after bars had closed.
"From what we've seen and been told, things could have been much more serious for all parties concerned as the 18 year-old from Glen Innes was left on the ground bleeding from his head after the apparent random attack.
"We urge all bar patrons to ease up on the drink and remind bar managers and licensees that our Alcohol Harm Prevention Unit will be looking closely at where people involved in such incidents are drinking and whether the appropriate levels of managerial responsibility are being adopted."
ENDS
Issued by Noreen Hegarty, Auckland City Police communications manager