Allegations of Sexual Abuse in NZ
	False Allegations - Index
	Cases - 2006
	The Press May 19 2006 Woman jogger stabbed in park Hunt for attacker by Mike Steere A massive manhunt is under way for a man who repeatedly stabbed a middle-aged woman as she jogged through a northern Christchurch park. The traumatised and bloodied woman managed to stagger more than 50m to a road before collapsing in front of shocked motorists after the unprovoked stabbing in the Styx Mill Reserve yesterday afternoon. The 47-year-old woman was taken to hospital as dozens of police descended on the scene and a helicopter was deployed to try to find her attacker. He is described as a caucasian in his late teens or early 20s. He was wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt. Detective Senior Sergeant Grant Wormald, who is heading the investigation into the stabbing, said the woman was jogging through the reserve, near the Hussey Road entrance, about 3pm when the man attacked and repeatedly stabbed her. The heavily landscaped park is in a rural area on the northern outskirts of Christchurch and has few houses on its borders. The area where the attack occurred is screened from Hussey Road by trees and shrubs. Wormald said the woman was jogging along a track when a man suddenly appeared in front of her. "She saw a man standing on the track and ran past him. She then heard him yell out. She was then grabbed and stabbed numerous times around the abdomen and her hands," Wormald said. The weapon slashed her hands as she fought to get away from the attacker. "She was able to stagger and run away from him," Wormald said. The woman managed to make it out of the track and on to Hussey Road before collapsing. A passer-by stopped to help her and alerted emergency services. Wormald said the woman was taken to Christchurch Hospital with multiple stab wounds, which were not believed to be life-threatening. The woman is a Christchurch resident, married with children. It is understood her family were at her bedside last night as she remained in a stable condition. The woman was obviously shocked by the unprovoked attack, Wormald said. About 50 uniformed and plain- clothes police and a helicopter searched the Styx Mill area through to the Northwood shopping centre for her attacker until dusk. The search of the reserve was called off late last night, but a full scene investigation will continue today, with forensic teams hoping to uncover leads. Shirley-Papanui Community Board chairwoman Yvonne Palmer said she was shocked by the attack, which had occurred in what had been regarded as one of the safest parks in the area. "We have never had problems there," she said. "That would probably be the last one you would expect." She said Christchurch City councillor Graham Condon used the reserve almost daily and had never encountered any issues of that type. "It is one the community board has been working very closely with the residents' association in keeping safe," Palmer said. Police are calling for anyone who might have seen a man fitting the attacker's description in the area of the park yesterday to come forward. "We are appealing to anyone who was in the Hussey Road-Styx Mill Reserve area who saw anyone behaving suspiciously to contact the Papanui police immediately," Wormald said. "This also includes anyone who may have had any problem with someone fitting this description in the last two weeks or so." Wormald said he was not aware of any other sinister incidents at the reserve before yesterday's stabbing. Were you the motorist who stopped to help the injured jogger? If so, please contact The Press on 364 8494, ext 827. . AROUND 3PM YESTERDAY A woman jogging through Styx Mill Reserve is attacked by a man wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt. -------------------- CAPTION: Manhunt: a helicopter crew searches for a man in northern Christchurch after a female jogger was repeatedly stabbed in the Styx Mill Reserve yesterday. Below right: police at the Hussey Road entrance to the reserve. Photos: David Alexander. GRAPHIC: [map showing Styx Mill Reserve]