American tourists Scott Kelleher (left) and Jacob Ulgenes after being discharged from Middlemore Hospital following being bashed in Paihia. Photo / File
American tourists Scott Kelleher (left) and Jacob Ulgenes after being discharged from Middlemore Hospital following being bashed in Paihia. Photo / File
Police have yet to make an arrest for the bashing of two American backpackers, one of whom needed surgery for a broken jaw.
Jacob Ulgenes, 22, and Scott Kelleher, 23, had only been in New Zealand for 48 hours when they were attacked on Kings Rd, Paihia, about 3am onJanuary 3.
After a night out in Paihia they returned with other travellers to the car park outside the Bay Adventurer Backpackers, when a car pulled up. A German woman in the group made a joke about the brightness of the car's lights, and a woman in the car became aggressive.
When Mr Ulgenes tried to calm her, he was punched in the jaw by a man, one of two people who appeared to arrive in the car with the woman.
Mr Kelleher was knocked unconscious, and had stitches in a cut lip. Police and an ambulance were called. After spending the night at the Bay of Islands Hospital, Mr Ulgenes and Mr Kelleher drove to Auckland's Middlemore Hospital. Five titanium plates and 14 screws now hold Mr Ulgenes' jaw together .
Police initially said they had a strong line of inquiry to follow and Senior Sergeant Peter Robinson said police had spoken to a woman associated with a vehicle used by the attacker. He urged anyone with information to call the Kerikeri station on (09) 407 9211 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
