Woman's jaw broken in four places during Wellington night out

Monday, 20 November 2023

It was just a normal Saturday night out on Courtenay Place for 21-year-old Zildijhan, her older sister Sendaria Johnston said.

However it ended with the young woman screaming in pain in Wellington Hospital, her jaw broken in four places.

Zildijhan, who has chosen not to share her last name, is recuperating from jaw surgery at home, after being allegedly attacked early Sunday morning, November 12.

The last thing the 21-year-old can remember is leaving Taranaki St rooftop bar Dirty Little Secret, Johnston said.

“The next thing she remembers is she was kind of going in and out of consciousness.”

Zildijhan told her she remembered staggering into Night and Day, asking for an ambulance to be called, without her phone and belongings.

Johnston said she first realised something was wrong when her sister called her crying from Wellington’s emergency department.

“She had all her stuff stolen -- she couldn't remember anyone's phone number. And, you know, just out of nowhere, my number came to her so she called me.”

Zildijhan told her she had been taken via ambulance to the hospital after she stumbled into Night and Day on Manners St, dazed, saying she was attacked.

Wellington Hospital initially did not realise the extent of the young woman’s injuries, Johnston said, giving her over-the-counter painkillers until a relative sitting with her at the hospital realised Zildijhan’s lower molar was twisted inwards, indicating damage around her palate.

“That's where they saw two clean breaks in her jaw.”

On Tuesday Zildijhan underwent surgery to repair her jaw, where it was discovered there were in fact four breaks, with one being between her eye and her ear.

The damage will take “months” to heal, Johnston said. Zildijhan’s jaw is wired shut, leaving her unable to eat solid food, and she has plates screwed into her face.

Johnston said she and her family were now trying desperately to find out what happened so she was actively seeking CCTV footage of the area.

She said she was told by her sister’s doctors that she had to have been hit by at least 50kg worth of force.

In addition to being seriously injured, Zildijhan had her designer handbag and iPhone stolen, valued together at $4000.

“We need to find them sooner rather than later.”

A police spokesperson said, at 12.40am on Sunday, they were alerted to a person needing assistance near Courtenay Place.

Police found an injured woman on the corner of Manners and Taranaki Sts and she was taken to hospital for treatment.

“Our inquiries are ongoing and we will be arranging a time to meet with the victim.”