A young man left with serious head injuries as he was beaten and robbed in a "classic bit of street thuggery" in Napier yesterday has yielded few clues about his attackers.
The 22-year-old was in an alleyway near Kennedy Park, between Riverbend and Russel roads, when he was attacked about 4pm.
Detective Constable Mike Signal said it appeared the man had been kicked while on the ground and was taken unconscious to Hawke's Bay Regional Hospital, where he was last night placed in an induced coma.
He suffered injuries to his head, face and liver area and would remain in hospital for at least the next few days.
The man was initially in a critical condition but this morning regained consciousness, allowing police to question him this afternoon.
"We've spoken to the victim, who still has very vague recollections of the event, but he's in a lot better shape," Mr Signal told NZPA.
"His last recollection at the moment was entering the alleyway and a group of people coming in the other end, and that's about it. It's a classic bit of street thuggery." A group of three to seven youths aged between 14 and 20 were seen in the area at the time of the attack.
The victim's backpack was stolen, containing CVs, an iPod and cellphone.
Police looking for the stolen property today had visited a number of addresses.
"We've issued warrants without much success," Mr Signal said.
Police hoped to speak with the victim again once he had recovered more.
"Quite often in these cases bits and pieces of memory come back, so we'll be speaking to him at a later date when things settle down." Anyone with information on the stolen property or who had seen the youths at the time is asked to contact police.
A second attack was reported in nearby Massey Crescent, but was not believed to be related.
A 20-year-old male was robbed by another man who then ran off down an alleyway.
Police were also investigating a possible stabbing reported about 3am today in Roberts Terrace but said few details would be available until they had spoken with the victim, who was also at Hawke's Bay Hospital.
