Soper’s son hurt in fall, not assault

A fall, not an assault, was responsible for injuries to broadcaster Barry Soper’s son, several months after his other son was stabbed on a night out in central Wellington.

Hugh Soper, 21, fell down a steep bank while walking on a track near Zealandia in Wellington, police said.

Barry Soper said he had spoken to police at the weekend, and they told him his son falling down a bank was a possibility, but they were keeping their minds open.

“If that did happen, of course we’re all very thankful. The problem is that he can’t remember anything, he remembers walking home through the bush and next thing he remembered was the police lights, so everyone assumed that he had been attacked.”

Soper said Hugh, whom he hoped would be discharged from hospital yesterday, had a fractured skull and “genuinely can’t remember anything”.

Hugh was also left with a brain bleed, a broken eye-socket and possibly a broken collarbone and rib.

Soper said his son originally believed he was assaulted because his phone was gone. It was later found not far from where he had been.

A police spokeswoman said: “Inquiries have established his injuries were sustained as a result of a fall down a steep bank while walking home.”

His brother Henry Soper, 23, was stabbed in the early hours of July 28 after a confrontation with a stranger outside a bar in Courtenay Place.

Jon Gary Edwards, 37, yesterday appeared in Wellington District Court and pleaded not guilty to wounding with intent to injure. He was remanded in custody until December 7 for a case review.