Party brawl witness tells of crowd charge

Workers clean smashed glass, bottles and pieces of wood off the road yesterday. Photo / Paul Estcourt

A witness to a huge street brawl has described how crowds armed with big pieces of wood - and a ripped-up mailbox - charged at partygoers at a 21st birthday.

Up to 80 people were thought to have been involved in the brawl, early on Sunday in New Lynn, West Auckland.

Six people were taken to hospital, including Leighton Taylor, 22, who organised the double 21st birthday celebration for two friends.

Last night he remained in a critical condition after suffering severe brain injuries during the brawl.

Mr Taylor owns a caravan and has been renting a section to the side of a house on Riverbank Rd for the past four months.

He had offered to hold the party in his front yard and had helped to organise a make-shift stage for a DJ.

Friend and neighbour Ike Pristly said the party had been going since about 8pm and had been fine until about 2am, when gatecrashers arrived.

"There was a fight inside and the guy [gatecrasher] was booted out on to the road.

"But he kept yelling back and swearing and then there was another fight.

"I look up the road and out of nowhere this whole crowd of people come from around the corner."

As the mob entered the cul-de-sac, dozens of partygoers who had gone out on to the road were forced back towards the end of the street, Mr Pristly said.

"[The gatecrashers] had pieces of wood, sticks - anything they could get their hands on - they pulled out my letterbox and used that. There were bottles flying, people punching, kicking."

Mr Pristly said after calling for police, he ran to find Mr Taylor.

"He wanted to go out [on to the road] but I told him: 'Stay here, mate. The cops are on their way, stay here'. But he ran out."

As the brawl escalated, Mr Pristly locked himself and his family inside the house, scared the mob would attack his property.

Mr Taylor was one of six people taken to hospital. "He's a really nice young fella," Mr Pristly said. "Just a hard-working guy, very placid and honest fella."

Police continued to block off the street yesterday as workers cleaned shattered glass, bottles and pieces of wood off the road.

The mother of one of the men whose birthday it was arrived about lunch time and spoke with police. She did not want to speak to media, for fear of repercussions, but a friend of hers - a woman who had also been at the party with her son - said they believed a gang was involved.

"They were all gatecrashers. We don't know any of them. Four of them came into the party and attacked the birthday boy."

The woman said both men who were celebrating their birthdays had gone to work yesterday feeling "stink as".

"It's not fair. This has been planned for a long time and then these idiots come and ruin the whole thing."

Detective Senior Sergeant Stan Brown said police had been told of possible gang involvement, but had ruled that out.

"There has been some loose talk, but our investigations are better than gossip."

Two 21-year-old men appeared in the Waitakere District Court yesterday, charged with assault.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Waitakere Police: (09) 839 0600.