Police are seeking the public’s help after a cowardly attack on a would-be Good Samaritan near Queenstown.
Detective Sergeant Derek Shaw, of the Central Otago's criminal investigation branch, said a man stopped at the Eastburn Rd layby on the Queenstown side of the Crown Range after noticing a stranger using a cellphone torch to signal for help about 10.30pm yesterday.
After getting out of his car, the victim was led to the other man’s vehicle, a black or dark-coloured four-door saloon, where he was asked to look at a problem the car was having.
But as the victim turned away, he was punched repeatedly by his attacker, who then grabbed the victim’s backpack and drove off in an unknown direction in the saloon, Det Sgt Shaw said.
The assailant was described as about 182cm tall (6ft), aged between 25 and 35, of stocky build, brown-skinned, with a bushy hairstyle.
The victim was able to drive to a family member’s house, where police were called, Det Sgt Shaw said.
He was taken to hospital where he was now awaiting surgery on a fractured jaw, he said.
• Contact police on 105 (file number 210327/4376) or phone the Crimestoppers line on 0800 555-111.
