Idlewild Avenue entrance off Bader Drive, Māngere. Photo: RNZ / Taiha Molyneux
A young mother who survived a random violent stabbing in Māngere almost two weeks ago hopes speaking out will help identify her attacker and alert the wider community.
The victim Mary* and her relative Audrey*, not their real names, asked to share their story anonymously and said they're in "a state of constant fear" knowing the offender is still on the run.
Mary was attacked on Friday, 26 September after stopping to visit Audrey at her home on Idlewild Avenue about 9:45pm. Police are investigating.
The location on Idlewild Avenue where Mary was attacked. Photo: RNZ / Taiha Molyneux
"I had literally just pulled up - the engine was still running, the headlights were on, the music was still playing," Mary said. "I turned around to close the window, and this guy was just standing there staring at me.
"He never said anything, he just stood there, then I saw his hand reach through the window, and he just started stabbing me in the face."
Mary said the attacker continued lunging at her, stabbing her in the face four times, before severing a radial artery on her forearm as she raised it over her head to protect herself.
"I couldn't see his face. I didn't feel the pain at first - I just felt the blood."
Despite losing a lot of blood, Mary fought back, slamming her car door into the attacker until he dropped the knife and ran off.
"He kind of fell backwards a bit and dropped the knife, then he just got up and ran."
The wheelie bin Mary used to hold herself up. Photo: RNZ / Taiha Molyneux
Inside the house, Audrey didn't realise anything was wrong until she heard banging on the bedroom window.
"I pulled the curtain back and just saw blood - everywhere," she said. "Her face, her hair, her whole body was soaked in blood."
Audrey called 111 as she ran outside where she found Mary slumped over a wheelie bin, drifting in and out of consciousness.
All she could say was "he ran that way and help me," Audrey said. "There was so much blood, and she was too weak to move, so I just sat with her waiting for the ambulance. I was screaming so loud, the neighbours had come out and were trying to help as well."
Police and ambulance arrived at the scene and Mary was rushed to hospital, where she was treated for multiple stab wounds and severe blood loss.
Stab wounds on Mary's arm. Photo: Supplied
Police collected the weapon and impounded Mary's car for forensic testing.
"We hoped they'd find fingerprints or DNA on the knife or inside the car," Audrey said.
Frustration Over Delays
Mary and Audrey said it was a struggle trying to contact police for information and updates on her case.
"Police called me on Saturday to say someone would come to my house on Sunday to get my statement, no one turned up," Mary said. "That was all I heard for four days, we texted and called the names and numbers they gave us, but no one was replying."
Mary said after days of waiting to hear from police, she and her partner took matters into their own hands and visited local businesses to ask if they had security cameras facing the road.
"We didn't know if any of the shops on the road had CCTV so we went and asked them if they did and if they could look through their footage from that night to see if they caught anything."
Audrey said neighbours were aware of the police and ambulance presence on the night of the attack, but many still didn't know what had happened.
"There's a school right behind our houses, don't know if they've been told," she said. "Mary's dealing with major physical and mental trauma, that attack has had a ripple effect on everyone. I'm afraid to leave my house at night, I'm scared to walk to my car, I don't know if that guy is still hanging around, its bloody terrifying."
Police Response
RNZ approached NZ Police for comment and Detective Inspector Karen Bright, of Counties Manukau CIB, said police were continuing to investigate the assault and enquiries remain ongoing to identify the offender.
Bright said Mary's full statement had now been taken and police confirmed the victim had collected her car.
She said a preliminary statement was taken from the victim on the night of the incident, however a full statement was not possible as the priority was that she receive medical treatment..
"Police collected two statements from witnesses on Friday night and a forensic examination of the victim's car has been completed the community can be reassured that we are doing what can to bring this matter to a conclusion."
She said officers were doing everything possible to identify the offender and would keep the victim updated as enquiries continued.
Mary and Audrey are urging people to be extra vigilant, and to look out for each other, especially when parking on roads in the area at night.
They're also asking residents nearby who may have their own personal security cameras to check their footage from between 9pm and 10 pm on Friday, 26 September, and contact police if they find anything that might help identify her attacker.
"Hopefully, by letting more people know what happened, where it happened and when it happened, there's a better chance of catching this guy before he hurts someone else," Mary said.
Anyone with information that can assist police enquiries are being asked to contact police online or call 105.
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