Dairy attack arrest

A Dallington dairy owner feared for his life when he was stabbed as he sat in his car.

Gayhurst Mart owner Kay Xuan has spoken for the first time about the attack that occurred about 8pm on May 20.

Mr Xuan, 31, closed the dairy and had just sat in his car when he was approached by a youth in a scarf who allegedly pointed a knife at him and demanded money.

Mr Xuan told the youth: "Take what you want.''

As the youth stood back from the car, Mr Xuan grabbed the spilt-second opportunity to close the door and lock it.

He said the youth tried to open the door, and then smashed the window with his elbow and began stabbing him in his chest and arm.

Mr Xuan said it all happened so fast. He could not recall how many times he was stabbed.

Looking back, Mr Xuan said: "He wasn't trying to scare me, he was trying to hurt me. I think he was trying to kill me.''

In spite of the pain, Mr Xuan managed to start his car and drive off.

He parked at a nearby petrol station and rang the police. He was taken by ambulance to Christchurch Hospital and required stitches.

Detective James Haigh said Mr Xuan was lucky he did not suffer more serious injuries.

Detective Haigh said he was saved by his thick jacket and layers of clothing underneath.

"It would've been a hell of a lot worse if he hadn't of been wearing that heavy clothing.''

Mr Xuan said he was left shaken by the ordeal and said he was shocked someone would do something so low given what residents in the city had been through following the earthquakes.

"It used to be a really nice area here but since the earthquakes everything has changed. It's a pity,'' he said.

Since the quakes the abandoned homes in the area have been graffitied, raided for hot water cylinders, had windows broken and the odd fire lit - leaving remaining residents on edge.

This was evident in nearby Burwood when John Bennett, 65, was arrested and "roughed up'' by police while protecting his quake-hit property in December. Mr Bennett armed himself with a child's softball bat and air pistol after fearing intruders when he was woken in the early hours of Friday morning.

But instead of finding looters who had been targeting the quake-damaged area, it was armed police hunting fugitives.

He said he was stood on by a police officer before being pinned against a fence at his New Brighton Rd home with a gun pointed at his head.

He was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and an offensive weapon. The charges were later dropped.

Dwayne Kararema Tutengaehe, 17, of Dallington, has been arrested over the attack on Mr Xuan. He has been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

He appeared in the district court on Friday and has been remanded in custody without plea to July 27.