Kicking `like video game'

31st January 2006

A group of youths who kicked a man nearly to death in Maraenui early on Sunday acted as if they were in a video game where "victims" get up again, police said today.

The 31-year-old man had to be flown to Wellington Hospital for specialist treatment after receiving a compressed skull fracture and lacerations. Apart from being kicked in the head he had also been bashed with what police believe was a branch from a tree.

His condition today was described as serious but stable and he is on a ventilator.

"The victim could so easily have died," Napier CIB detective sergeant Mike Foster said.

Two youths, aged 16 and 17, were scheduled to appear in the Napier Youth Court today on charges of assault, although Mr Foster said as inquiries continued, other charges were likely to be laid.

The incident happened in the backyard of a section off Bledisloe Road, about 6am, after what appeared to have been a night of drinking.

The severity of the attack left police shaking their head in amazement that the victim was still alive. They believe up to five youths may have been involved at some stage.

"It's an ongoing thing - it happens often," Mr Foster said, adding that many young people had been brought up in a culture where violence was part of life and acceptable.