Self-defence in the News - No. 46

Shopkeeper punched as she fights back during robbery

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10892494 

By Morgan Tait

 Monday Jun 24, 2013

 

A middle-aged woman was punched in the face when she fought back against two armed females trying to steal money and cigarettes from her Auckland dairy yesterday.

The woman's husband, who was afraid to be identified, told the Herald it was the second time their business, Puhinui Superette, had been robbed since the pair bought it in late 2010.

He had briefly left the store on Puhinui Rd, Papatoetoe, to do some shopping when two women entered about 2.20pm yesterday, he said.

"It's very awful, they came into the shop and one of them produced a gun. One of them she [threatened] my wife and other one got into the counter and took some money and cigarettes." He said his wife tried to stop the women from getting away.

"My wife got punched in the face - her lip was bleeding from where it hit her teeth and she has got some cuts. She chased them out and tried to stop them escaping. My wife is really brave."

He said she was left shaken and afraid after the incident.

Neighbours, who are regular customers of the dairy, saw the shopkeeper chasing the women and helped to restrain one of them.

Police say they are now looking for the second woman, described as Polynesian, about 20, with dark brown hair, who ran away with more than $200 of cash and cigarettes.

The store was also robbed two years ago, and it left the couple - who are both aged over 50 and moved to New Zealand from China 10 years ago - feeling vulnerable.

"We never feel really safe in this isolated place, we have to rely on our luck not to get killed or injured and nothing can really be done about it.

"We have had one of these incidents before and this time she fought back really strongly."

St John Ambulance staff treated the shopkeeper for her facial injuries.

Saturday training today, 22nd June

There is Saturday training as usual.

1:00pm today.

Class cancelled - Thursday 20th June

Due to dangerous road conditions, class tonight is cancelled.

We will make up for it when I see you next.

• Check back here for news about Saturday's class. Brent has the key, so you could text him, or get in touch with Mike or me.

Self-defence in the News - No. 45

Daughter, 18, cuts off her father's head after he rapes her

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2342526/Daughter-18-cuts-fathers-head-raped-Papua-New-Guinea-village-home.html

 

"Daughter, 18, cuts off her father's head after he raped her in their Papua New Guinea village home."

 

By Richard Shears

16 June 2013

Protective ring: Villagers in the remote western highlands of Papua New Guinea say they will not let police talk to the 18 year old rape victim (file image)

A teenage girl chopped her father's head clean off with a bush knife after he raped her in their home in the highlands of Papua New Guinea.

Now residents of the village have formed a protective ring around the 18-year-old, refusing to hand her over to the police because they agreed her 'evil' father deserved to die.

A local church leader, Pastor Lucas Kumi from the village of Rang in the Western Highlands, said the entire community would refuse to allow the girl to be subjected to any official investigation.   

'The people and leaders in our area went and saw the headless body of the father after the girl reported the incident to them and explained why she had killed her father,' said Pastor Kumi.

He told the Post Courier newspaper that the father, in his mid-40s, raped his daughter when they were alone in their house after the mother and two other children from the family went to visit relatives for the night.

'The father went to his daughter's room in the night and raped her repeatedly. 

'The father wanted to rape his daughter again in the morning and that was when the young girl picked up the bush knife and chopped her father's head off,' said Pastor Kumi. 

'We've all agreed that she is free to stay in the community because the father deserved to die. 

'The daughter did what she did because of the trauma and the evil actions of her father, so that is why we have all agreed that she remains in the community.' 

He said a ring of protection had been placed around the girl, who will be kept away from any official investigation.

'The community have also agreed not to conduct any formal burial service for the father.'

Mid-year get-together

Looks like it's all arranged.

Saturday, 15 June at our local.

For details, contact one of the senior students who usually train on Saturdays, eg. Mike, Brent, Hadrian, Ange... or send me a text.

Anthony

Self-defence in the News - No. 44

Woman fights armed invader

http://www.northernadvocate.co.nz/news/woman-fights-armed-invader/1900229/

 8th Jun 2013

By Kristin Edge

 

 10am UPDATE: Police have arrested a teenager after a woman fought off an attacker in her Ruakaka home early yesterday morning. 

Detective Seargeant Shane Pilmer said a 17-year-old had been arrested last night and would appear on the Whangarei District Court today.

* * * * * * * * * *


A 40-year-old Northland woman needed surgery for a deep gash to her hand after she fended off a knife-wielding intruder who had climbed through her bedroom window.

Police detectives were yesterday interviewing Ruakaka residents near Wahanui Walkway after the early-morning attack on the woman, whose young child was sleeping in another room.

The incident comes two weeks after a man tried to sexually assault a 15-year-old girl in her Marsden Point Rd home.

The man struggled with the girl but he was scared off by a neighbour leaving home next door.

No arrest has been made in that case.

Head of both investigations Detective Sergeant Shane Pilmer was not linking the two attacks but said they had similarities and that was concerning. Police were unsure of the motive behind the latest attack.

The woman had been woken by a noise outside her window about 4am yesterday. She had got up to see what was happening and found a man with a bandanna around his face climbing through the bedroom window.

Mr Pilmer said a struggle ensued on the bedroom floor when the man produced a knife. Both the woman's hands were cut and surgery for a deep cut on one hand had been scheduled at Whangarei Hospital yesterday.

The woman managed to fend off the attacker, who had fled out the bedroom window.

The woman had then raised the alarm.

"She was very shaken up and very distraught. This could easily have been a lot worse. During the scuffle, she could easily have been fatally stabbed," Mr Pilmer said.

A police dog and handler were called but were unable to find a trail. St John ambulance officers were called to the house and transferred the woman to hospital.

The attacker has been described as a male Maori, of slim build with short hair, aged in his 20s or possibly younger. At the time, he was wearing a white T-shirt, black jeans and fawn-coloured shoes.

He also had a brown or fawn-coloured bandanna around his face.

Mr Pilmer said detectives were determined to track down the man to ensure there were no further attacks.

In the meantime, he urged home owners in the Ruakaka area to make sure windows and doors were securely locked at night.

He called on anyone who may have noticed anyone acting suspiciously in the Wahanui Walkway area late on Thursday or early on Friday to contact police.

On June 22, a man, described as a male Maori in his 30s, walked down the driveway of a Marsden Point Rd house, knocked on the door and spoke to a girl about 9.45am.

After speaking to him, the girl closed the door and turned to walk back inside the house. But the man pulled the door open and entered the house.

Mr Pilmer said there was a struggle between the girl and the man - the girl ending up on the ground.

The man had then tried to sexually assault the teenager but someone had left a neighbouring property and disturbed the attacker.

The girl had raised the alarm with a friend who rang police. She had sustained cuts and bruising and was seen by ambulance staff at a nearby house.

If you can help call Mr Pilmer directly on 09 4304589 or anonymously on 0800 Crimestoppers. 

Queen's Birthday weekend

Training as usual on Monday.

Self-defence in the News - No. 43

Nurse speaks out after Hamilton knife attack 

http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/8744160/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