Prostitute disappears with slug embedded in brain

The disappearance of an Auckland prostitute with an air rifle slug embedded in her brain is worrying police who want to get her to hospital.

The prostitute, 20, was shot in the head in a drive-by attack last month but was back on the streets in the south Auckland town of Papatoetoe within a few days.

Police said today the woman still had an air rifle slug embedded 60 to 70mm deep in her brain and doctors wanted to give her a scan to see if it had moved.

However, the woman had disappeared and police had not been able to track her down.

Detective Sergeant Graeme Fleming, of Mangere police, said she may be in Christchurch.

"All indications are that she is okay. She has a slug pellet in her brain.

"However, if it has moved there could be a bit of a problem but if it is sitting where it should be, she should probably live a normal life."

The slug had struck the woman on the temple in the soft part of the skull between her eye and her ear.

"She has just disappeared and not gone in for a cat scan," Mr Fleming said.

The woman was shot when a car pulled up alongside her at Hunters Corner in Papatoetoe on April 3. Police said they had yet to confirm a motive although it might have been over a debt.

"Maybe someone has decided to teach her a lesson."

Mr Fleming said police doubted she had been shot because she had been muscling in on another prostitute's territory.

"She is a victim, she has been shot," he said.

- NZPA