Family flees home in fears for safety

A man who allegedly assaulted his neighbour in south Canterbury has been allowed back to his property on bail, forcing a family to flee their home.

The family, which includes an 11-week-old baby, have fled to Lake Tekapo over fears for their safety.

The 22-year-old father said he had heard "three big bashes" on the side of his house on Tuesday night, He went outside to investigate and got into an argument with his neighbour.

"Next thing I know I was knocked down onto my knees and I couldn't see anything. I've never felt anything like it before," he told The Press.

The man believes he was struck with a plank of wood.

"I felt all the blood coming and the hot liquid going everywhere. I ran inside and covered the floor in blood while I was standing there."

His partner, also 22, said they were advised to stay in the living room with the lights off while they waited for police.

"Everything was just covered with blood," she said.

A 54-year-old man has been charged with injuring with intent after the incident in a small rural settlement, which is not being named for legal reasons.

Police said the armed offenders squad was mobilised as a precaution during the incident.

The accused man appeared in Timaru District Court on Wednesday and was released on bail to his home to reappear on March 16.

A national police spokesman said police weighed the merits of each case when deciding whether to oppose bail.

The officer in charge of the investigation could not be contacted yesterday.

Victim Support chief executive Tony Paine said bail conditions should consider the victims of crime, but he did not want to speak about specific cases.

"I think if there's ever any risk in the bail process of re-victimising someone who's already been the victim of serious crime then that needs to be taken very seriously ...

"You've also got to think about the alleged offender's community and the victims of the crime," he said.

- NZPA