Protest against violence after bottle attack

08 Aug, 2021

JULIA WADE

A crowd of nearly 60 gathered on the corner of a local Mangawhai road at midday Sunday August 8, motivated to show support for the victim of an unprovoked violent assault.

Police confirmed they were called to a report of a disorder in Wood Street shortly before 9pm on August 6. A woman was taken to hospital to receive treatment for non-life threatening injuries.

While sitting in her car outside Wood Street’s Pizzeria on Friday night, August 6, ready to drive some people home from an event at the venue, Charlotte Wilson was struck in the head by a large beer bottle which flew through her open car window allegedly purposely thrown by the assailant, leaving her with large cuts, swelling and bruising around her right eye which required 30 stiches ‘right down to the bone’.

Charlotte was attended to by St John paramedics who arrived at the scene in a few minutes and escorted her to Whangarei Hospital as police apprehended the assailant.

“St John and local police were amazing,” said Charlotte.

The emotional trauma, however, left her feeling understandably unsafe to stay in her own home for the remainder of the night.

A 52-year-old man, was arrested and taken into custody following the incident, and after a thorough assessment by police was issued with a summons to appear in North Shore District Court on September 7 on charges related to assault with a weapon.

Although Wellsford/Mangawhai Sergeant Rainer Coetzee says he cannot comment on the case as it is before the courts, he would like to encourage people to report any non-emergency incidences in their neighbourhood via 105 so police are aware of what’s going on.

“We often only know about incidents if they report it,” he says. “Unfortunately, with neighbours it is often civil matters and disagreements that police have no involvement with, but at least if it’s reported we can be aware of what’s happening and step in where it does cross over that threshold from civil to criminal.”

When addressing the crowd gathered on the corner of Jack Boyd Drive and Mangawhai Heads Road, Charlotte said she organised the protest to make a stand for the community against the attacker.

The crowd applauded Charlotte and acknowledged her bravery. Commented one protester: “That’s a hell of an experience to go through. It takes a lot of courage to stand there and I admire what you’re doing here today as I’m sure everyone here does, good on you.”

“We cannot let ourselves be victims… the terror I experienced of nearly losing my eye and the trauma I am experiencing is overwhelming,” Charlotte says. “Thank you all for coming to support not just me but anyone who has been a victim in Mangawhai. I’m so pleased to be here and have you all here… we have such a wonderful community and I’m not leaving.”

A large crowd answered the call by attack victim Charlotte Wilson (seated right of sign) via social media to help highlight abusive behaviour and take a stand against violence in Mangawhai. PHOTO/JULIA WADE