A police manhunt is underway after a dog walker was repeatedly stabbed in Bexley, Christchurch. Photo / George Heard
A man is in critical condition in Christchurch hospital after he was stabbed multiple times while out walking his dog in an early-morning assault in Bexley.
Emergency services were called to an incident on Pages Rd, between Portchester and Farnborough streets about 6.20am today.
A mobile police unit has arrived and a large black forensics police tent erected at the entrance of Bexley Park .
Police are combing the street and paying particular interest in the entrance to the reserve, working through the thick tussock searching for evidence.
Police have asked the public for any information saying ”this is a relatively busy road, and it’s possible someone witnessed this event or captured it on dashcam”.
A neighbour on Pages Rd spoken to by the NZ Herald said Bexley Park where police have congregated is popular with dog walkers. Residents said dog walkers are usually out walking around the time of morning when the assault occurred.
”There’s a dog park there, a playground - it’s a very popular place,” one said.
Warren and Andria Stent live near the park and said the news of the random assault was particularly concerning given Andria goes for walks around the area regularly.
”We’ve always found this to be a particularly safe area,” said Warren.”It’s reasonably busy at the park, but apart from traffic noise we never have any trouble.
”The dog park is popular for locals, according to the couple. People will often walk their dogs up and down the road at all hours of the day.
The cordon continues to cover the same stretch of road, essentially the whole length of the park’s entrance. Traffic is continuing to be diverted but the road isn’t particularly busy.
Bexley Park is a large ground, incorporating a BMX club, a Go Kart track and a soccer field.
Terry Conley Sports Fields, which is a section of the park where the soccer fields and clubhouses are located, has been taped off by police and a vehicle is guarding the cordon.
Shortly after 8am, two police officers could be seen walking through the soccer field.
One staff member told the Herald a dog handler was also at the park.
Police are interested in hearing from anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in this area overnight, in particular from 4am on Monday.
MORE TO COME.
The judge said the man's actions were 'calculated, manipulative, and highly premeditated'.