A Hawke’s Bay man walked two kilometres to his home following a serious assault which left him with a fractured skull, police say.
Glenn Spotswood, 42, remained in Wellington Hospital today in a serious but stable condition.
Detective Nathan Davis said footage from a petrol station security camera showed Mr Spotswood walking by at about 12.40am on Friday.
A short time later another man, who was yet to be identified, appeared on camera heading in the same direction along Takapau Road, Waipukurau.
The next morning a great deal of blood was found outside Mr Spotswood’s business CHB Glass, indicating he may have lay there bleeding for some time, Davis said.
The blood formed a trail leading to Spotswood’s home, about 2km away.
“He’s been assaulted quite heavily to the head. He’s got a fractured jaw and a fractured skull.
“It’s absolutely incredible for him to have walked home,” Davis told NZPA.
Police believed it may have taken him up to six hours to cover that distance.
He was discovered around 8.30am by a colleague and his mother, who lives in a flat beneath Mr Spotswood’s house.
Davis said the road to Spotswood’s home was part of State Highway 2 and police were confident he would have been seen — most likely by a truck driver or one of the local meatworkers after the plant closed at midnight.
It was not known if a weapon was used in the assault nor why Mr Spotswood was attacked, although his wallet was missing. Mr Davis said police were unsure if there was any significance to the attack happening outside Spotswood’s business.
Police said Spotswood would be approached for a statement when his condition improved.
