Attacker must be caught

Talisha Edwards' anguish over the attack on her brother is something we can all respect.

Her 16-year-old brother was left with severe injuries after being stabbed in the face with a screwdriver on November 21.

It has been a long time without an arrest after an incident that happened in daylight on a central Wanganui street.

There should be outrage in the Wanganui community that this has happened to a child. Street violence can't become an everyday event or a pernicious trend that can envelop anyone from a teenager riding his bike to a shift worker heading home, as happened in Wellington not so long ago. Manutahi Edwards is in a bad way. Described as a "big, gentle, kind kid" by his elder sister, he has been taken out of the intensive care unit at Wellington Hospital and his family now just have to wait and see how well he will recover.

They don't know if he will talk again, or regain other faculties.

Talisha Edwards spoke to the media of being "terrified" when she saw her brother in hospital. She keeps hoping police will soon call with news.

The police may be close to an arrest for all we know. But if not, it's time to ignore any rumours or connotations surrounding this crime. It doesn't matter if Manutahi's dad was in a gang.

It doesn't matter if he had peripheral connection with a gang or was wearing the wrong colours. What does matter is that the culprit is caught. Sixteen-year-olds should not be stabbed in the face on Wanganui streets without someone being held to account.

If anyone has any information, please call to call Detective Sergeant John Gleeson on 349 0612.

The offender is described as a male Maori, 1.83m (6ft) tall, with a No1 haircut. He is believed to have a beige pitbull with him.