'Bloody animal' sought after woman thrown off bridge

[Disco Dan]

'Bloody animal' sought after woman thrown off bridge
Monday, 10 March 2008

A "bloody animal" who attacked an Auckland woman cyclist and threw her and her bike off a bridge into a stream is being hunted by police.
The 63-year-old was riding alone across a footbridge through Waiatarua Reserve in suburban Remuera yesterday morning when the man approached a began punching her.
He picked her up and threw her from the bridge 3m into the water below, then dropped her bike on top of her.
The water, which was shallow enough for her to stand in, broke her fall and she was able to clamber out.
The woman suffered a bloody nose, a back injury and scratches to her legs, but police said she was lucky to be alive.
"This is a callous, vicious attack by a bloody animal. . .we're lucky there was no serious injury," Detective Sergeant Jason McIntosh of the Auckland crime squad told the New Zealand Herald.
The attacker, who said nothing to the woman, fled the scene on foot.
He was described as a fat Maori or Pacific Islander in his 30s about 193cm tall.
Police said the random nature and viciousness of the attack had them worried the man could strike again.
They appealed to anyone who may have seen the attack or the man walking through the reserve to contact them.
- NZPA

[Mully]

Now, I heard about this yesterday evening and my first thought was "Oh, that poor old lady, how terrible, what a monster, etc".

But on further thinking about it. The "Old woman/Cyclist/Remuera" angle specifically... $10 says she was biking on a pedestrian path, and had a go at the guy for not getting out of the way quickly enough and he snapped.

Stands to reason:
1, Old women, especially ones from Remmers, think they are above the law, that the rules don't apply to them and that they are a level above anyone else (generalising, but meh)
2, Cyclists don't think laws should apply to them (again, generalising)
3, 1 plus 2, equals Mully jumping to a conclusion.

In which case, good on him.

[Finn]

Fuck off Mully. That's someones mother.

[ManDownUnder]

In which case, good on him.

Are you mad?

[slimjim]

Fuck off Mully. That's someones mother.

x 2
well said

[Mully]

Fuck off Mully. That's someones mother.

Sorry, if this offended you, but clearly, you've never been verbally abused (or been biked into, which really fucking hurts) by one of these mad old bats who think they have a right to cycle wherever they want because they happen to be 400 years old, and if you don't get out of the way, it's your own fault. The ones with little yappy "dogs" are just as bad.

Are you mad?

Actually, that was a bad choice of words on my part. I meant more "I can see, if this was the case, why it happened". I'm not excusing it, but it's understandable. With that sort of overreaction, he does need locking up. Since there is no mention of a robbery, if it was unprovoked, then the guy is simply a psycho.

[ManDownUnder]

Actually, that was a bad choice of words on my part. I meant more "I can see, if this was the case, why it happened". I'm not excusing it, but it's understandable. With that sort of overreaction, he does need locking up. Since there is no mention of a robbery, if it was unprovoked, then the guy is simply a psycho.

OK - clearly not mad... Sounds like the guy's a f'n headjob no matter what provoked it (short of her pulling a gun)

[forkoil]

An anti cyclist attack, wont find too much empathy in this forum?

[Mully]

OK - clearly not mad... Sounds like the guy's a f'n headjob no matter what provoked it (short of her pulling a gun)

I agree. I was trying to say that, because it hurts so much when they run into your shins, he may have got angry and snapped. Entirely inappropriately, of course, but I'm sure you've experienced the "Fuck, that hurts so much, I have to blame someone or something and hit them/it if they are around" moments.

Although, punching wasn't mentioned last night. Only that he had pushed her off a bridge and thrown/dropped her bike on her.

[Badjelly]

Although, punching wasn't mentioned last night. Only that he had pushed her off a bridge and thrown/dropped her bike on her.

Are you really saying it would have been understandable if he'd pushed her off a bridge and thrown/dropped her bike on her, but not if he punched her?

Quit while you're not too far behind, mate.

[Finn]

Only that he had pushed her off a bridge and thrown/dropped her bike on her.

Only? You're a prick. The more you try to back peddle, the bigger that hole gets.

[Deano]

The average person is a moron - anyone need further proof ?

[Mully]

Are you really saying it would have been understandable if he'd pushed her off a bridge and thrown/dropped her bike on her, but not if he punched her?

Hmm, I am digging, aren't I.

No, what I'm saying (well, trying badly to say) is that if he was injured by her (physically ridden into, which hurts a lot) and he'd only pushed her and her bike (in one movement), that is understandable. Not excusable. It's that half a second of anger when you get hurt. It's that instinct to lash out quickly (probably rooted in fight-or-flight response) that I'm talking about. I know most people can control the physical lashing out, but for whatever reason, he couldn't.

It's like slipping over on a wet surface. If it hurts, you blame the surface ("Oww, stupid fucking path" type thing. You don't (at the time) blame the fact that you were running with no grip, which comes later ("That was dumb of me, running on that surface")

[Hitcher]

Is it time yet to push *Button B* and save some time by inserting the requisite 133 posts that generally accompany Kiwi Biker discussions of this type? e.g. outrage, revenge, capital punishment, personal responsibility, police bashing, etc.

[Badjelly]

Hmm, I am digging, aren't I?

Yep.

Look, we've all experienced road/footpath/supermarket aisle rage. (OK, maybe I'm the only one who's experienced the last one.) But for a young guy to attack & injure a 63-year old woman isn't on, and I think we can all agree on that. And stop digging!