A 47-year-old man appeared in the Kaitaia District Court yesterday on charges arising from what a senior police officer described as a vicious attack on a woman at Pawarenga.
The man has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm and wounding with intent. A charge of assaulting a female was also laid, arising from an alleged assault on another woman a short time earlier on Saturday night.
The man had allegedly attacked the woman as she lay sleeping in bed after returning to the address from "fishing competition festivities," he added, using a large conch shell as a weapon. The victim suffered a broken arm, broken hands, suspected fractures of facial bones and a number of deep lacerations.
She managed to escape to a neighbouring address where she was given first aid until an ambulance arrived, and was then flown, in a serious condition, to Whangarei Hospital by rescue helicopter.
• Richard Pirini was remanded in custody without plea to Wednesday next week.
