No grudge against killer - Hemmings family

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FAMILY MAN: Austin Hemmings with his wife Jenny and their three children, Meghann (back), 19, Jessica, 17, and Gareth, 16.

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Craig Hemmings says his slain brother Austin was a "good Waikato boy" who would have fought to the end to stay alive for his family.

The Cambridge man spoke to the Waikato Times yesterday about his brother, who died minutes after being stabbed in the chest while trying to help a woman being attacked by a man in downtown Auckland on Thursday evening.

Mr Hemmings said the whole family were Christians, and they held no grudge against his killer.

The dead man had strong Waikato links, having grown up here. He moved to Auckland only a few months ago.

Austin Hemmings' widow, Jenny, and their three children, Meghann, 19, Jessica, 17, and Gareth, 16, were yesterday still struggling to cope with the death.

"(We're all) numb, distraught. Austin's children are very upset. They miss their dad. He won't be coming home tonight; he'll never be coming home. They loved their dad and he loved them."

He said Austin was a "good Waikato boy" who, along with his two other brothers, was brought up on the family farm at Matamata before attending Matamata College.

Their father, Richard, was a former pastor at the town's Baptist church.

The family had decided to move to Auckland at the start of the year after Mr Hemmings accepted a job as broker manager for NZI. Before that he worked for Law, Mooney and Williamson insurance brokers which earlier this year was bought by Crombie Lockwood.

Mr Hemmings said he was "bummed out big time" at the loss of Austin.

"You just couldn't get anyone better as a guy," he said.

"He was a loving husband, loving father, loving brother who loves his parents and has never done a thing wrong. He's never smoked a cigarette ... He puts other people first, but that's just his way."

Austin followed in his father's footsteps by becoming an elder at Fairfield Baptist Church in Hamilton.

Mr Hemmings said it was because of their strong Christian faith that the family did not hold a grudge against the person allegedly responsible for his death.

"No. That's a part of our upbringing. All I want is my brother back. I'm not even thinking about the other guy. He doesn't even figure in our thoughts at all. Austin is all we think about. As a Christian, you're brought up to forgive. We don't hold grudges."

Austin was the youngest of three boys, aged 44. Craig is the eldest, at 50, with Grant, 48.

All have gathered at Austin and Jenny's family home in Devonport along with the couple's parents, other family members, and friends.

Waikato Diocesan School For Girls' spokesperson Debbie Stevens said Mr Hemmings' wife, Jenny, was a teacher at the school for eight years and became department head of art in 2005.

After settling in Devonport she became art teacher at Takapuna Grammar.

Ms Stevens said Mr Hemmings was insurance broker for Waikato Diocesan for several years. Staff and students were "understandably very shocked" by his death.

"She (Jenny) was more than happy to move there with him and support him. They always had a very supportive and loving relationship and were very family orientated."

Fairfield Baptist Church pastor Geoff Follas said Mr Hemmings was an elder at the church after joining the parish about seven years ago.

"The news has come like a bombshell of course, so (fellow parishioners are) struggling. Some of the folk will be going up to be with the family because they've only been there since the end of last year."

The family had since become parishioners at an Anglican church in Takapuna.

Mr Hemmings was a loved member of the church and was "a man of depth and maturity and good character".

Matamata Baptist Church associate pastor Cliff Diprose said Mr Hemmings had attended the church in the past and was a worship leader there. He described him as a down-to-earth man.

"He was a strong believer and a strong family man. I would imagine he just saw what needed to be done; he probably went straight in and did what he could he's that sort of guy."

A 45-year-old sickness beneficiary was arrested after police stormed into an Otahuhu house early yesterday, and was charged with assaulting a woman. The arrested man appeared in court yesterday. He is likely to face more charges.