New Zealand

Gangsters beat man senseless

July 2, 2019 2:11 pm

An Auckland man has been “beaten senseless” during an altercation outside a South Auckland bar.

Lafaele Tupai says the attack on him took place in the car park of the Paradise Bar & Pokies on Bairds Rd in Ōtara.

He had been at the bar with workmates on Friday night when he went outside to the public toilets where he ran into up to 10 men in gang colours.

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They took his hat and asked if he had money before they went back in the bar with Tupai.

Tupai said he had planned on getting away from the gang members but can’t remember what took place next.

His boss – who was also at the bar – later told Tupai’s family that he had found Tupai outside the bar badly injured and talking with a security guard.

Tupai had stumbled “crooked and smashed” up to the guard seeking help, his boss said.

“Apparently I was walking to him with a bruised face, horrible looking, asking him for help,” Tupai said.

“That’s when the boss put me in the van and started to bring me to hospital.”

Tupai has since had surgery to straighten his jaw and still has bad bruising on his face.