Victim at heart of murder probe nearly died in 1998 Taranaki attack
A man allegedly murdered in Christchurch in the early hours of New Year’s Day had a previous brush with death at the same time of year in Taranaki 22 years ago.
Just hours into the New Year in 1998 Kane Alan Wayman was repeatedly stabbed and had his carotid artery cut during an attack by two men at New Plymouth’s White Hart Hotel.
Police later described the vicious attack as premeditated.
His assailants were charged with attempted murder and one was later jailed for five years when he pleaded guilty to a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
On January 1, 2021, a woman driving a white Mercedes left Wayman 46, outside Christchurch Hospital in a critical condition.
He had suffered serious head injuries and died soon after.
Four people, who all have been granted interim name suppression, have been arrested and charged with Wayman’s murder.
Wayman was associated with the Head Hunters MC gang, and it is believed he had gone to a New Year’s Eve party at the South Island headquarters of gang rivals the Mongols MC the night he was killed.
The father of one spent time in Taranaki during the 1990s.
Grant Coward, the former head of the New Plymouth CIB, said he immediately recalled Wayman when he saw a news report on his death.
‘‘He was the victim of a serious assault here,’’ Coward said.
‘‘I can confirm that he was living here at that time.’’
Wayman, who had served jail sentences for drug and sex offending, was no stranger to encounters with the law, he said. ‘‘He was often attracting
police attention.’’
Coward was not sure how Wayman came to be in Taranaki.
When arrested in New Plymouth in 1999, Wayman was in possession of 14 capsules of cannabis oil and a typed list of names of members of the city’s Magog Motorcycle Club.
Coward said Wayman did project a hard persona.
‘‘He did have a tough exterior but deep down he was a reasonable man to deal with.’’
A friend of Wayman, who declined to be named, claimed she was invited to the Mongols party but couldn’t go.
Something must have gone ‘‘terribly wrong’’, she said.
‘‘Kane didn’t deserve to be hurt the way he was.’’
The woman, who had known Wayman for about 12 years, said he was the ‘‘kindest teddy bear’’ and would be dearly missed by his daughter, family and friends.
In 2006, Wayman was a key witness in Jule Patrick Burns’ trial for the murder of Christchurch sex worker Suzie Sutherland in 2005.
Burns, a South African immigrant, was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum 17-year non-parole period.
The four people charged with Wayman’s murder have been remanded to reappear in the High Court at Christchurch on February 4.
Scene examinations were continuing at two addresses and the police investigation was ongoing.
Police say more people could face charges as the investigation continues.