KEY POINTS:
Bashed Auckland war veteran Eric Brady is home from hospital and says he will be back at his favourite drinking hole next week.
Mr Brady, 85, a bomb aimer on the RAf's 57 Squadron in World War 2, was brutally attacked in the car park of the Papatoetoe RSA where he had been having a quiet drink on February 18.
He suffered serious facial injuries and has had surgery to insert a metal plate in his lower jaw.
An 18-year-old, who has interim name suppression, has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Brady, stealing his car keys and being armed with a knife. He is due back in Manukau District Court tomorrow.
Mr Brady has vowed not to lose any sleep over his attacker.
"I'm a survivor," he told the Dominion Post. "He is a coward."
Mr Brady said he was pleased to get home to his favourite armchair and his own bed and did not fear being left alone.
He would not be looking over his shoulder worrying about from which direction the next attack could come.
But he did concede he would take a taxi to the RSA when he returned next week.
In the meantime he would surround himself with the flowers, cards and good wishes sent from around New Zealand and take comfort in the knowledge that not all was bad in the world.
- NZPA
