KEY POINTS:
Police have arrested a Lower Hutt man for the home invasion of a Napier journalist who had part of his ear bitten off.
Acting Detective Sergeant Nic Clere said a 27-year-old was arrested late yesterday afternoon after a house near the victim, Hawke's Day Today newspaper reporter Doug Laing's residence, was searched.
The man had been charged with wounding with intent and burglary and would appear in Napier District Court today.
Laing was at his home soon after midnight yesterday when a man smashed his way in and attacked him, biting part of his ear off.
Laing said he tried to fight off his attacker, who was "growling like an animal" and seemed intent on hurting him.
"I was struggling for my life...I thought I was a goner," he said from his hospital bed.
Police found the piece of Laing's ear on a blood-spattered duvet and rushed it to Hawke's Bay Hospital, where a surgeon sewed it back on.
Mr Clere said several items were seized from the house that was searched and would be subject to forensic examination.
Police had also spoken to several other people at the house.
He said the arrested man was temporarily living in Napier.
Mr Clere said the attacker was described as Maori or Polynesian, of solid build and wearing only trousers, and still wanted to hear from members of the public who may have seen someone fitting that description in the Wandsworth Crescent area of Maraenui about 1am yesterday.
- NZPA
