Benjamin’s nose is swollen, he has a split lip and his front tooth is chipped in half. “My jaw is swollen as well as my arms and body where I was grabbed," he says. One of the victims of a late-night bashing on Auckland’s K’ Rd is still in a state of shock, saying his 'false sense of security' has been shattered. Benjamin, 21, and his friend Mitch Kirdy were attacked by two “big guys” after being called faggots near Howe St in the early hours of Saturday morning. Two men were arrested when police arrived on the scene. “I am still in a state of shock, it hasn't really hit me yet,” Benjamin says. “You never really expect these things to happen to you; you go through life seeing these awful things happening and it's just so hard to comprehend the reality of it in your own life. I also feel disgusted that a human being could do that to another human being.” Benjamin’s nose is swollen, he has a split lip and his front tooth is chipped in half. “My jaw is swollen as well as my arms and body where I was grabbed.” He also has to take a few days off work, which he says is not ideal. “It is unfair as this petty crime has a significant short term impact on me. The damage to my phone is a real downer and there is simply no excuse.” Benjamin is happy with how police responded. “The police patrol the K’ Rd area well, the surveillance is fantastic. I am currently still waiting to hear back from the police. Last I heard was that an arrest was made; now I just want them to touch base with me as to where to go from here.” He has a message for other gay people who use K’ Rd: “It could be you, be smart, and exercise situational awareness constantly.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Sunday, 2nd June 2013 - 11:54am