KEY POINTS:
A 35-year-old man turned himself into police today after an assault on the weekend left Paul Algar, a former Black Sox pitcher, hospitalised with serious head injuries.
Detective Sergeant Andrew Saunders of Porirua CIB said the man was arrested and charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
He will appear in Porirua District Court tomorrow morning.
Police allege the assault happened about 2am on Saturday morning in the Whitehouse Road, Titahi Bay area, after Algar and the man had an argument over a game of pool.
The man then allegedly retrieved a crowbar from his car and attacked Algar leaving him unconscious with a cracked skull.
Witnesses told police that after Algar fell to the ground, the man allegedly hit him several more times with the crowbar before jumping on him and punching him.
He only stopped when an onlooker yelled at him and Algar was taken unconscious to hospital with a skull fracture, multiple lacerations and severe bruising to his head and face.
Mr Saunders said detectives still wanted to find a black shoe and a metal weapon such as a bar or a spanner which may have been dropped in the Titahi Bay Road area.
"If anyone finds these items or knows where they might be, then please contact Porirua Police," Mr Saunders said.
Algar, 42, had been playing and coaching softball in the United States but had been visiting New Zealand for a holiday.
In the United States, Algar plays top-level softball in Wisconsin for Circle Tap.
His wife and family have already headed back to the United States and Algar was due to follow them next week.
Now, he will have to wait to get medical clearance before he can make the trip and will miss softball games he was scheduled to play.
He was concerned the attack could affect his softball career.
"It's in the back of my mind -- depending on the severity of the injury -- that I may not be able to start the season with my team, but I think definitely I'll be able to participate in some of the season."
Algar last played for the Black Sox in 2003 and won a World Series with the team in South Africa in 2000.
- NZPA
