Teen admits brutal attack on officer

A Hastings teenager yesterday admitted he assaulted off-duty Detective Dan Foley even though the 51-year-old had identified himself as a police officer.
City Charles Timu, 17, pleaded guilty to a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm as a result of the Totara St assault which left Mr Foley unconscious and lying in a pool of his own blood.
In the early hours of October 1, the off-duty officer had driven to the street to pick up his 16-year-old daughter from a party before spotting Timu fighting with a woman.
Mr Foley walked over to the woman, who was at one stage pinned underneath Timu on the road, and offered assistance.
Timu then became aggressive towards him, after he realised he was talking to police on his cellphone.
The detective was then grabbed by the scruff of the neck and punched seven times to the head after warning Timu he was a police officer.
He fell, before being stomped in the head numerous times, causing a severe laceration to his forehead, a fractured eye socket, major swelling to his head and bleeding on the brain. Timu had to be dragged off Mr Foley by an associate.
Police arrived to find their colleague lying in the gutter in a pool of his own blood. At Hawke's Bay Hospital, the detective was put in an induced coma and remained in intensive care for a week in a critical condition.
Defence counsel Eric Forster said his client accepted the summary of facts, and wanted to express his sincere apologies.
His letter to the detective was submitted to Judge Bridget Mackintosh.
Timu was remanded in custody for sentencing on December 15.