Update Ngaruawahia serious assault

Operation Jeff release II

Waikato Police investigating the serious assault on three men in Ngaruawahia overnight have four areas of interest to their inquiries and are continuing to interview witnesses and the victims.

District Field Crime Supervisor, Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Ross Patterson, said investigators were still working to establish just what happened when three men suffered serious lacerations at the hands of a man armed with a weapon described as a meat cleaver.

"Our focus has been on completing the scene examination where the attack took place in an area behind retail stores in Ngaruawahia while at the same time completing forensic analysis of two vehicles linked to the incident and a residential address on Newton St.

"A 39-year-old man was arrested at the address shortly after the attack and a weapon, similar in description to that used in the attack was recovered. It is yet to be confirmed if this item was the one used in the attack."

Mr Patterson said the 39-year-old man appeared in the Hamilton District Court today on three serious assault charges.

"Of the men injured, each suffered serious lacerations and one is currently in a critical condition in Waikato Hospital's Intensive Care Unit following surgery while another is in a stable but serious condition in a hospital ward. The third victim was discharged from hospital today."