By TONY WALL
The memory of bashed Auckland lawyer John Timmins is slowly returning but he can still shed no light on how he came to be beaten and left for dead in an Onehunga industrial estate.
Mr Timmins, a close friend of Prime Minister Helen Clark, who is taking a personal interest in the case, was found in a pool of blood in the courtyard of Shieling Laboratories in Hill St last Thursday morning.
His black BMW was earlier found crashed through a fence in Mangere Bridge.
Mr Timmins, aged 49, is in Auckland Hospital with skull and facial fractures and apparently has amnesia.
His son, lawyer Michael Timmins, said his father was feeling frustrated. "He wants to know what happened to him."
Initially, Mr Timmins did not remember anything leading up to the attack, but he now says he can remember going to his BMW in the carpark of the former Fay, Richwhite building in the central city at 11 pm last Wednesday and unlocking the door.
The Herald understands that a large number of scenarios are being considered to explain how Mr Timmins got to the industrial estate.
It is understood officers are looking for two Asian people seen acting suspiciously in Hill St around midnight last Wednesday.
Mr Timmins' wallet was found in his car and he was still wearing his watch, but it is understood other personal items were missing.
Police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty said police had spoken to Mr Timmins a few times but hoped to interview him fully when his health improved.
She would not speculate on how Mr Timmins came to be where he was.
She said Mr Timmins' status in political, legal and business circles was not the reason police deliberately kept the case quiet.
She had made a judgment call not to tell the media last week because details were sketchy, it was a "wishy-washy story" and the police were concerned about the safety of Mr Timmins' family.
Mr Timmins is a highly regarded employment law barrister, was formerly chairman of the Mt Albert Grammar board of trustees and is a key Labour Party organiser.
Labour Party president Bob Harvey described him as an old and dear friend of the party who had hosted many of the corporate fundraising dinners leading up to last year's election.
Helen Clark said through a spokesman yesterday that she was shocked by the attack and Mr Timmins' family were devastated.
Memory better but still no clues
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