Family wake to nightmare attack

At least 10 windows were broken during the episode and there were bloody fingerprints and splatters on window sills. Picture / Dean Purcell

A family barricaded themselves inside a room in their house yesterday as a stranger tried to burn it down around them.

Protected by a locked door, the Manurewa family screamed for neighbours to help them as a man smashed windows and vandalised their home.

A 21-year-old man who poked his head out of the window to call for help was smashed in the face with a hammer.

Just before dawn the family of five had heard a man screaming outside their Halsey Rd home. Neighbours woke to the sound of windows breaking around 4.15am.

Police say the attacker got into the house and began smashing things, and once the family realised what was happening they shut a hallway door to stop him getting to them.

Detective Senior Sergeant Sue Schwalger said the man who was hit by the hammer, fracturing his eye socket, had gone to his bedroom window to call for help.

Neighbour Gav Lye heard the plea for help and rushed outside while his partner Dana Luka called the police.

"All we could hear was the screaming. He was saying 'help me, help'," said Miss Luka.

Mr Lye saw his neighbour fall to the bedroom floor after he was struck, and he called out to the attacker who "didn't even pause".

"It was like I wasn't even there. It was just like tunnel vision with this guy. He was intent on causing drama."

The man then re-entered the family home and tried to smash down the hallway door which separated him from the family, which included a boy in his late teens and girl aged about 10.

He is alleged to have lit two small fires, one in the kitchen and one in the laundry.

"Then he has decided to smash up the lounge and the dining room and he's flung electrical items out the windows, smashing up the television," said Ms Schwalger.

By the time police arrived the man had locked himself in the house, which was filling with smoke.

"They [police] sent the dogs in because the house was burning by then," said Miss Luka. "The police were yelling 'get out of the house'."

"It was just really freaky."

Ms Schwalger said the man was arrested after a struggle. He was taken to Middlemore Hospital and doctors operated on cuts to his arm. The hammer victim also went to hospital but was later discharged.

Police examining the scene were faced with glass and debris.

At least 10 windows were broken and there were bloody fingerprints and splatters on several window sills.

A 37-year-old man, who was not known to the family, has been charged with wilful damage and is expected to face further charges.