Boy defends mother from assault in park

BY KAREN MANGNALL

An 11-year-old boy was punched in the face when he tried to protect his mother from an attacker in a Wiri park.

A man came up to the young Russian mother as she watched her son and his younger sister at the Inverell Ave playground around 4pm on October 29.

Detective constable Kiley Dalbeth says the man sat down next to the woman on a park bench and started pestering her.

"He asked her where she’s from and if she had the time.

"She said no, and that they were just leaving."

As she was walking away the man came after her and again asked her the time.

"She said, sorry we must go. And that’s when he grabbed her."

As the man tried to go through her pockets the woman pushed him away. The boy came over to help his mother, Mr Dalbeth says.

"As a result the baddie has punched the young boy in the face."

The man then punched the woman in the face, knocking her down.

"He punched her a couple more times and looked through her pockets again."

The man grabbed the woman’s house keys and ran off across the park towards Trevor Hosking Drive.

The attack left the boy with a broken tooth and his mother with a blood nose and grazed legs.

Mr Dalbeth says the young Russian family migrated to New Zealand only recently and are living in temporary accommodation while waiting for residency.

"They’ve left Russia because of their religion – they’re Christian and the kids were getting bullied at school.

"They’re here trying to make a new life and are doing everything by the book."

Mr Dalbeth says one of the witnesses had seen the attacker around before so he’s probably a local.

The man is described as dark-skinned, about 20, 1.8 metre (5’10") tall, skinny, with black curly hair to his shoulders. He was wearing a distinctive black hat with a narrow brim, a dark green cotton zip-up jacket, black jeans and black and grey running shoes.

Police would like to hear from anyone who can identify the man or who might have seen him in the Wiri area that Thursday afternoon.

Anyone with information can call Mr Dalbeth at the Manurewa CIB on 268-5800.

- © Fairfax NZ News