Joseph Rangi Harris

Less than a week after an elderly man was murdered in a house in Epsom an elderly woman has been viciously assaulted in Botany, east Auckland.

The woman, age 75, was visiting a relative at a rest home at around midday on Friday when she was attacked. She suffered serious head and facial injuries and was admitted to intensive care at Middlemore hospital.

Counties Manukau detective sergeant John Love said the victim was viciously assaulted.  “She was punched, kicked and stomped on,” he said.

Police on Saturday said they wanted to talk to 45-year old Rangi Joseph Harris, who they described as a “person of interest”. Despite efforts to locate him he had not yet been found and police would like to hear from anyone who might know where he was.

“We believe Rangi Harris is travelling in a silvery-grey 2008 Kia Sportage, registration ESJ406.”…Police said he should not be approached by members of the public. more here

Our thoughts are with the woman and her family and we wish her a full and speedy recovery.

Unfortunately elder abuse is commonplace in New Zealand, attackers seem to be no respecters of gender, age or infirmity. This is borne out by the country having one of the worst rates of child abuse and family violence in the developed world, and has led to New Zealand becoming infamous for its culture of brutality.

Life in the real middle earth is not brilliant every day for the thousands of victims of abuse and assault.