A gay Taranaki man has been found with horrific injuries under a Queensland bridge after allegedly being propositioned by a married man. Joth Wilson Joth Wilson, 25, was found by his husband lying unconscious under a train bridge in Gladstone, Queensland, in the early hours of New Year's Day. Wilson had broken bones and third degree burns to his head and torso. His other critical injuries include a brain haemorrhage, broken neck and a severed spine cord. Husband Maioha Tokotaua, also from Taranaki, says several men had been previously harassing the pair and one of the men had made a pass at Wilson, which was rejected. On New Year's eve Wilson disappeared after heading out to a nearby dairy. Tokotaua found him lying on train tracks below a bridge two hours later. Tokotaua believes the alleged assailant, who may have gang connections, feared Wilson would tell the man's wife about the proposition. Police have said his burns were probably caused by contact with electric power lines above the tracks. However, Tokotaua believes they are more consistent with being doused with "a chemical or lighter fluid that has been poured on him and set alight." Tokotaua has publicly posted the name of the man he believes attacked his partner. Queensland police say they are still investigating how Wilson came to be at the bottom of the bridge. Tokotaua and Wilson have been married for three years and have several children as well as having fostered many children in recent years.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 6th January 2017 - 10:23am