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Woman survives bolt shot in head
and KATHERINE NEWTON Saturday, 10 January 2009
Neighbours of a woman left with a crossbow bolt lodged in her skull heard "an almighty scream" as the wayward bolt hit.
Had it struck a centimetre either way, she would be dead, police said.
The injury has sparked fresh calls for a licence system for the weapons.
An Auckland Hospital spokeswoman said staff were shocked to see the woman wheeled into the emergency department with the 40-centimetre-long bolt jutting from just above her right eye.
The 42-year-old Auckland woman was hit by the crossbow bolt which had travelled more than 30 metres as she watered pot plants on the veranda of her Glen Eden home on Thursday afternoon.
"She was very lucky," the spokeswoman said.
The woman was in a serious but stable condition yesterday after undergoing surgery.
A neighbour appears to have accidentally fired the crossbow, which was a Christmas present, into the woman's property.
The neighbour and the victim's 16-year-old son heard the woman call out and went to help her. Other neighbours said the man tried to shoot at an old stereo, but the crossbow jammed, sending the bolt flying.
"A person in a house next door to us heard a fairly almighty scream from the property .
Neighbour Murray Cramp said other neighbours heard the woman cry out as she was struck… She was lucky not to have been killed outright. She was lucky not to have been killed outright.
Inspector Joe Green, police manager of licensing and vetting, said there were no licensing laws around the use of crossbows.
Police said firing a crossbow in a residential area was irresponsible and they were considering laying charges.
Crossbows can be bought from places such as on-line auction site Trade Me, where yesterday there were at least 12 models on sale for as little as $50.
Someone who was found to have misused the potentially lethal piece of equipment could be charged with possession of an offensive weapon under the Crimes Act.
In light of the incident, former NZ First law and order spokesman Ron Mark renewed his call for the Government to introduce a licensing requirement for crossbows to bring them in line with other arms.
Mr Green said there was no evidence that crossbow incidents were on the rise. .
"These weapons are potentially lethal, with the ability to kill or maim at a range of 60 yards, yet there is no requirement for crossbows to be licensed
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Vets warn of fat pets risk
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: Bert the fox terrier tipped the scales at 32kg before being put on a weight-loss programme.
Owners of pets risk killing them with kindness as a human obesity and diabetes epidemic is being mirrored among animals, vets say.
In serious cases, diabetic dogs and cats would require regular insulin injections, just like humans.
Mike Gething, who runs a vet clinic in Auckland, said the number of cats and dogs diagnosed with diabetes had risen by 20 per cent in the past decade, with up to 10 new cases at his clinic this year. "Middle age to older dogs and cats that are obese are at higher risk.
Although more animals were being diagnosed, and environmental and hereditary factors played a role, many of the cases were the result of obesity, he said.
"People let their dogs and cats carry more weight than they should. Right now we're treating nine dogs and seven cats for diabetes."
Nick Cooper, of Johnsonville's Care Vets, said he had also noticed a high incidence of fat pets, especially cats. Dogs are around when a family is eating and they can't resist giving them food. It's not just diabetes, the weight affects their joints, movement and quality of life. "A lot of owners think they are just cuddly. "Just like people, the best way for animals to lose weight is more exercise and less food."
SPCA vet Cristina Gans said trends in the United States had established a clear link between obese animals and diabetes."
Dr Gething said though treatment for diabetes would normally save the animals, all dogs and many cats would have to have insulin for the rest of their lives. Owners should work out a diet plan with their vets. "If an animal is morbidly obese, diabetes is a risk but often we see pets that aren't obese.
Wellington vet Kerry Burke said diabetic animals were not necessarily over-weight and the increase in reported diabetes could be the result of more pets being taken for check-ups."
. Obesity is a factor but it's not a huge factor
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Baby’s head injury no accident – Nelson police
The Friday, 31 October 2008
The skull fracture suffered by a four-month-old Motueka baby who is in a critical condition in Auckland's Starship Hospital could not have been the result of an accident, police say.
Detective Sergeant Kevin Tiernan of the Nelson CIB said the baby boy was still in paediatric intensive care Friday morning.
Mr Tiernan said the police inquiry was proving difficult because paediatricians were unable to give a date when the skull fracture was suffered.
The baby's parents called St John Ambulance on Monday night, as he was becoming unresponsive.
He said it could have been any time over Labour Weekend, and police needed to interview everyone who had had contact with the baby since then.
Mr Tiernan said the parents had also been caring for an extended family member's 13-month-old infant, who was now in Child Youth and Family care. He was transferred to Starship Hospital from Nelson Hospital on Tuesday.
The baby's mother was interviewed at length on Thursday but had no explanation for how he suffered the skull fracture, Mr Tiernan said. It could not have been an accident.
"At this stage, there is no reasonable explanation for how he fractured his skull. ."
Mr Tiernan said he hoped to build a clearer picture of what had happened after speaking with the baby's father on Friday. It is difficult to unravel – nobody wants to talk about it.
"These are very difficult investigations because it is something that has happened in the privacy of their own home."
Mr Tiernan said the baby had no injuries other than the skull fracture and was otherwise a "normal, healthy, well-cared-for" little boy."
Mr Tiernan said the baby had no injuries other than the skull fracture and was otherwise a "normal, healthy, well-cared-for" little boy."
Mr Tiernan said it was too early to comment on whether charges would be laid.
"They are looking for answers themselves.
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Parents feared ‘baby girl’ was dead
Families united in their pain
– Sunday, 28 September 2008
The parents of the woman police claim was the target of a fatal stabbing have told how they were terrified their "baby girl" had been murdered.
Devonport father of three Austin Hemmings, 45, was stabbed to death in Auckland's CBD on Thursday evening after attempting to fend off a man who was allegedly attacking a female relative.
The accused made a brief court appearance, charged with one count of male assaults female but police said more serious charges were imminent.
As Austin attempted to call police from his cellphone he was stabbed in the chest, allegedly by a man who was located the following morning at a south Auckland flat.
But yesterday her parents spoke of hearing about the Mills Lane tragedy the street where their daughter worked and "immediately" thinking she was the slain victim.
The 25-year-old woman Austin tried to help was last night in hiding with a close friend.
"I was just so shocked, so upset.
"I thought `that is my baby girl, my little girl is dead'," the mother told from her west Auckland, home.
The woman's parents had been praying since Austin's death. How could this have happened?"
The mother said the arrested man was a distant relative. He saved my daughter's life.
"We are spending much time thinking about Austin.
"My girl is the person who always helps everyone else, so to see other people coming for her rescue is just amazing. How can I ever repay that kindness," the father told .
The head of the police homicide inquiry last night confirmed the fears of the woman's family."
The Western Samoan parents said they haven't spoken to their daughter whose name is suppressed but planned to attend church as a family tomorrow.
Asked if the accused had been in a relationship with the woman, Whitley responded: "I can't make any comment about that.
"He has gone there specifically to see her," Detective Senior Sergeant Gerry Whitley said."
has learned armed police guarded the home of the woman until the accused had been apprehended.
"I would like to but that is a purely operational matter.
Meanwhile, members of Grey Lynn Samoan Methodist Church which the woman's family have attended since she was born will this morning meet and pray for Austin's family.
"We didn't want another fatality on our hands," said one police source.
He would offer to participate in Austin's funeral service.
Reverend Ioane Tuupo said the congregation had been severely affected by the tragedy but their faith in God would help them get through.
"It is not a nice feeling knowing that a member of your church could have died," Tuupo said.
"It is not a nice feeling knowing that a member of your church could have died," Tuupo said.
"She is a very courageous, supportive and helpful young lady. I rely on her in this church."
The deeply religious woman says on her social networking page that "too many" people "go around not knowing" or being "scared" of the "unknown".
Nalesoni Tupou, one of the lawyers representing the accused, last night attacked media coverage of the incident, saying he was "greatly concerned" by the public sympathy for Austin.
"I respect the loss of the father but with all the emotions running like this you have to wonder how we will get a fair trial."
Tupou had not yet discussed with his client the events of Thursday but said he was "pleased to be in custody".
Meanwhile, Austin's family wife of 25 years, Jenny, daughters Meghann, 19, and Jessica, 17, and son Gareth, 16 said they planned to scatter his ashes in Israel.
"He wanted to go to Israel," said Jenny, an art teacher at Takapuna Grammar. "He just wanted to see where a lot of the Bible happened walk where Jesus walked. So what we're going to do, he's going to be cremated and we're going to do that trip for him."
Jenny said she hoped her husband's death would inspire more people to find God.
"I want everyone to be talking about Austin … We have got too much violence in our society. The only way to change that is to change what's in our hearts.
"One of the greatest wishes in Austin's life was that people come to know God. And he had to die to get his message to the nation."
Austin's funeral will be held at Holy Trinity Church, Devonport, on Wednesday at 1.30pm.