Plans in a smoky bar, death on a city street

By SCOTT INGLIS

Nick Clarkson grabbed a handful of Cheezels from his mate Arvind Bajaj as the two started heading home after a few beers in downtown Auckland.

That night they talked about a lot things, like setting up their own business, maybe importing shoes and clothes from India and China.

But at 2.30 am on Quay St they went to catch a taxi. Arvind did; Nick was meant to. Instead, he walked off to a savage death.

Nicholas Phillip Clarkson, a 23-year-old telemarketer, was beaten over the head with a piece of timber early on Friday last week.

The blows left him fighting for life in Auckland Hospital. He died on Sunday.

He was buried yesterday in his Canterbury hometown of Rakaia, where at least 1000 mourners turned up.

A 25-strong murder squad is hunting his attacker or attackers.

Mr Clarkson, a sports junkie with a black belt in taekwondo, went to Ashburton College. After finishing the seventh form, he made his way to Auckland, where he worked for relatives, before attending Auckland University for two years.

Last September, he began work at Queen St's Holiday Marketing International and quickly made friends.

Mr Bajaj says it was common for them and other workmates to go out on a Thursday or Sunday night and enjoy a few drinks.

On Thursday last week, Mr Clarkson took off his royal red-crimson tie and finished work about 9.30 pm, and made his way to the QF bar in Queen St.

Standing 1.93m tall and dressed in a black button-up jacket, white shirt, black trousers with horizontal pockets and a fine dark grey pin-stripe, and dark burgundy leather shoes, the dark-haired young man would have cut a fine figure among the revellers that night.

He would certainly have stood out in an exclusive Nautica black, zip-up sleeveless vest with a white square pattern on it.

He might have looked big but, says his mother, he was a "gentle giant."

Mr Clarkson met seven workmates at the Provedor bar just after 11 pm and they went on to the Lenin Bar on Princes Wharf.

As cigarette smoke hung in the air, Mr Clarkson drank beer and talked with Mr Bajaj over the music and chatter.

They spent much of the evening discussing how to set up their business. The group, now four-strong, left at 2.30 am and went to the nearby Star Mart, where Mr Bajaj bought the Cheezels.

After he left the taxi stand, Mr Clarkson walked to the ASB automatic teller Machine in Queen Elizabeth II Square and withdrew less than $100 at 2.45 am.

Some time after that, he was bashed, his wallet stolen and pockets turned out. He was found lying in a pool of blood on the corner of Gore and Quay Sts about 4.30 am, with a large piece of wood next to him.

A trail of blood led detectives to roadworks about 200m along Quay St, where they found his blood-saturated black leather Reebok shoulder bag.

The attack has shattered his family and friends. Says Mr Bajaj: "It's terrible - I've lost my best mate."

Yesterday, police revealed that a Lorus watch that may belong to Mr Clarkson had been found in downtown Auckland. It has "To Nick from Rachel" inscribed on the back.

Police are working through footage from up to 16 security cameras, as well as interviewing people who were in the area.

Detective Senior Sergeant Jim Gallagher, who heads Operation Quay, says that while robbery may be the motive, it was also possible an altercation took place and Mr Clarkson's wallet was taken as an afterthought. Anyone with information can contact the murder squad on 0800 VIOLENCE (846 53623).