Attempted murder charges after street fight

Attempted murder charges have been laid against two men allegedly involved in a Hamilton street fight last week, in which one had his ear bitten in half and was stabbed multiple times.

Police investigating the attack, which happened early last Friday, were initially told a man disturbed two burglars trying to steal a push bike from his Albert St home.

He then chased the thieves to Onslow St before a confrontation began in MacFarlane St.

"Our original victim, a 32-year-old man, said he confronted the thieves on his own and during the fight suffered stab wounds to the neck, torso and head and also had an ear bitten in half," Detective Senior Sergeant Karl Thornton said.

"What he didn't tell us was he had an accomplice, who he had chased the thieves with - a man already wanted by police."

Mr Thornton said police became suspicious because of the large amount of blood at the scene and after several witnesses described a group of four men fighting.

"What has occurred is that not only did our original victim suffer numerous wounds, he also entered into the fray armed with a weapon and used it to stab one of his attackers several times," Mr Thornton said.

"After the incident the two thieves fled with the injured man's friend bandaging up his accomplice who didn't want to go to hospital."

The uninjured offender gave himself up earlier this week, and police arrested a second man this morning.

Mr Thornton said a fourth man - Quentin Robert Terure - had been identified and police wanted to speak to him.

He was described as a 21-year-old Maori, 173cm tall and of medium build.

- NZPA