Firefighters witness stabbing

Firefighters intervened after a woman allegedly stabbed her ex-partner outside his Christchurch home.

Virginia Maria Beerens, 58, has been charged with the attempted murder of Benjamin Han, who is recovering in Christchurch Hospital. She is accused of using fire to intentionally damage his bed and personal items.

Emergency services were called to a fire at Han’s Picton Ave flat on Monday.

Jake Malis, who has visited Han in hospital, said Han got a call from his flatmate to say his room was on fire.

‘‘Ben rushes back home and the fire department has got a bunch of questions for him – and of course Ben doesn’t have any answers.’’

Beerens, a dental assistant, was there. The pair spoke before she allegedly stabbed him.

Malis said Han did not realise at first he had been stabbed.

‘‘He thought he was just getting hit and then he saw the knife come back bloody and realised he’d been stabbed and fell down.

‘‘The firemen thought he was flopping . . . and they saw the knife and [intervened].’’

Han told Malis he lost consciousness after firefighters started treating him. He did not wake again until he was in intensive care.

Malis said the couple met about two years ago through a support group and hosted a radio station together.

He said the ‘‘stormy’’ relationship ended several months ago.

Malis said Han was a ‘‘very peaceful, pragmatic, non-violent kind of guy.’’

Beerens was generally ‘‘charming and pleasant’’.

Beerens entered no plea at an appearance before Judge Alistair Garland in the Christchurch District Court on Tuesday.

No bail application was made in court, but duty lawyer David Bunce indicated one may be made at her next appearance, which will be in the High Court on February 9.