Nurse speaks out after Hamilton knife attack
HARRY PEARL
01/06/2013
The victim of a knife attack near Waikato Hospital this week says she and other hospital staff "shouldn't have to feel scared".
Two female nurses were threatened by a man wielding a knife shortly after 10pm on Thursday night.
The nurses, who had just parked their car in Horne St before starting a night shift, were confronted by a man who knocked on the driver's side-window, opened the car door, and threatened the pair with a knife.
He then repeatedly told both women to "get out" of the car, police said.
Detective Constable Lucy Southall of the Hamilton CIB said the driver of the car kicked out at her attacker and both women refused to budge.
"After a short while the attacker fled the scene in the direction of the hospital and the Pembroke St-Selwyn St intersection."
Police and district health board management have condemned the attack, and appealed for help from members of the public who may have seen someone acting suspiciously in Horne St between 10pm and 10.30pm.
One of the victims, who asked not to be named, said people knew that the hospital area was full of vulnerable women.
"We need people to respect us.
"We are looking after sick kids and their families and the last thing we need is to be abused at work or on our way to work.
"I shouldn't have to feel scared."
Ms Southall said police believed that a couple seen walking along Horne St shortly after 10pm could be the key to solving the attack.
"The area where the attack took place was one with poor light. However, the victims described the attacker as a dark-skinned male aged in his early to mid-twenties of average height with brown eyes and shaved black hair."
The attacker wore a red and white patterned bandanna over his face and the weapon was described as a small pocket knife with a 7cm to 8cm blade, Ms Southall said.
The young woman seen walking with a man just before the attack was described as looking about 18 years old with long blonde or brown hair tied in a long ponytail. She had a white push-type scooter.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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