Police will speak with local business owners and review CCTV footage as they investigate how a transgender Auckland woman was left with horrific injuries on a Palmerston North street. Angel Rangitaawa, 33, is in the Intensive Care Unit in Wellington Hospital in a serious condition, with bleeding and swelling of the brain, multiple skull and face fractures, broken eye sockets and a broken shoulder blade. She was found lying on the ground near the entrance to the Copthorne Hotel between midnight and 1AM on Saturday – after she left the opening of a friend’s art exhibition. “We are monitoring the victim's condition and have not yet spoken to them,” a police spokesperson says. “A scene examination has been completed and officers are continuing to make inquiries with people that were with the victim prior them being found. “Over the next few days we will be speaking to local business owners as well as reviewing CCTV footage in the area which will hopefully give us a clearer picture of how the victim has sustained their injuries.” Anyone who saw what happened around the intersection of Fitzherbert Avenue and Ferguson Street between midnight and 1am on Saturday is asked to call the Palmerston North Police Station on 06 361 3600 and ask for Detective Johnny Oram.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 23rd June 2014 - 11:58am