Alleged basher also hurt

A man who bashed his partner so badly she was hospitalised with broken bones also ended up needing medical treatment after two members of the public intervened.

The man was seen attacking the woman in a car on Whitaker St, Waitara, about 5.30pm on Sunday when he was pulled from the vehicle, police said.

The woman was taken to Taranaki Base Hospital with serious injuries. The man suffered head injuries and was also taken for treatment. He has been charged with wounding with intent to injure.

Police are investigating the actions of the two members of the public who helped stop the attack.

‘‘They have stepped in and basically pulled him out of the vehicle and in that process he has also been injured,’’ acting Sergeant Craig O’Doherty said.

‘‘At this stage we are not sure how badly they have been involved. At this stage no-one has been charged with an assault on him. The people involved, they’ve been assisting us with our inquiries as well.

‘‘Police are investigating any force that was used by anyone and any injuries that anyone has sustained.’’

Police were alerted to the violent attack by members of the public, O’Doherty said.

‘‘It appeared that there was a couple in a car and the male had assaulted his partner, quite badly. She has been hospitalised with some fairly significant injuries, suspected broken bones.’’

O’Doherty said while the man remained in hospital he had effectively been arrested and charged for the attack on his partner while inquiries into the actions of the members of the public were being made.

While police wanted members of the community to stop domestic violence where they could, O’Doherty said they didn’t want them to put themselves in danger or take it too far. ‘‘We do encourage members of the public to stop these things if they can.’’