Fatal beating victim was ‘a very gentle man’
A ‘‘VERY gentle’’ Featherston man died after a vicious beating likely delivered at the hands of people he knew.
Glen Jones, 40, died about 5am yesterday after being transported to Wellington Hospital.
He was found bloody and unconscious by a neighbour at his Fitzherbert St unit shortly after midnight.
Jones’ ex-partner, Lisha Wellington, arrived tearfully at the cordoned-off scene and could not believe what had happened.
The pair had been together for about 31⁄ years and both were keen pool players, often heading down to the pub and teaming up.
‘‘ He was a very innocent man, he wouldn’t harm anyone, a gentle man, a very, very gentle man.’’
Part of a well-known
Wairarapa family, Jones – commonly known as ‘‘Jonesy’’ – worked at the local 4 Square supermarket and had spent his entire life in the town.
Several upset and angry locals approached the Sunday Star-Times to express their disbelief that anyone would have wanted to harm him.
A neighbour said he was a peaceful guy who had never caused any trouble. ‘‘It’s put a major dampener on the day. We’re going to a wedding this afternoon and most people will know him there.’’
Dozens of past and present Featherston residents also took to the town’s Facebook page to express both their condolences to Jones’ family, as well as their outrage at the crime.
South Wairarapa district councillor Solitaire Robertson, who lives in Featherston, said it was a traumatic time for the town but was confident it would pull together.
‘‘ We’re a really resilient community, there’s a lot of good people here and something like this shocks us to the core.’’
Detective Inspector Sean Hansen described the beating as ‘‘vicious’’, ies.
He declined to comment on whether a weapon had been used.
The neighbour had heard a commotion and called 111 before going to Jones’ flat and discovering him unconscious.
‘‘At this stage we do not believe this was a random attack and we also know there was more than one person involved,’’ said Hansen.
A second property of interest on Revens St had also been secured and Hansen expected the scene
causing
multiple
injur- examination at Fitzherbert take several days.
People of interest were being spoken to and, although no arrests had been made, there was nothing to indicate that Featherston residents had to fear further attacks, he said.
An autopsy would be carried out today and 18 police staff were working on the case.
Anyone with information, especially regarding any suspicious activity at the southern end of Featherston around the time of the attack, is asked to contact police.
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