Police at Christchurch property after critically-injured person turns up at hospital

Thursday, 17 October 2019

Police in Jarrow Place in Halswell, Christchurch, after a person was critically injured in a 'disorder incident'.

An altercation involving a group of people that ended with a man being stabbed is believed to have involved members of Christchurch's infamous Harris family.

A woman was overheard saying she stabbed someone while a group of people, armed with an iron bar, attacked an acquaintance on Jarrow Place, in Halswell.

A police spokeswoman said officers were notified of a disorder incident after one person arrived at Christchurch Hospital 'of their own accord' but with critical injuries about 11.15am on Thursday.

Several armed police officers, mufti vehicles and a police dog unit were seen on Jarrow Place. One officer was seen looking through rubbish bins and bushes around a property. Police confirmed the search was linked to the injured person.

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Stuff overheard a woman on Jarrow Place telling another woman 'I stabbed someone', and that police may take her away.

Police were alerted to a disorder incident at Jarrow Place, Halswell, after a person turned up at Christchurch Hospital with critical injuries.

'They attacked [a man] with an iron bar … they got him on the ground and they were just kicking him so I just ran inside and grabbed a knife.'

Another woman was overheard saying four people had shown up at the house, suggesting one of the four had been stabbed.

Stuff understands the incident started as a verbal altercation among the parties who did not know each other on the street. The altercation intensified with a man being stabbed.

The victim has since been discharged from hospital.

Police could be seen investigating along Jarrow Place, Halswell, on Thursday morning.

It is understood the incident involved members of the Harris family, and the house near where the altercation happened is part-owned by Paul Robert Gordon Harris.

Several members of the Harris family were involved in crime in the late 1980s and 1990s, with Darryl, Paul and Ricki Harris jailed for the shooting of two Highway 61 gang members in 1991, and Rustie Harris jailed for his part in a drive-by shooting in Riccarton in 1996, when he was aged 18. In 2007, a house owned by several members of the family in Brixton St burst into flames when a gas bottle exploded.

Detective Senior Sergeant Nicola Reeves said several people were helping police with their inquiries following Thursday's incident.