Victim of alleged bus stop assault on Courtenay Place had recently arrived in NZ

Tuesday, 8 October 2024

Luke Smith was placed on life support after the alleged attack, which has now been switched off.

A homicide investigation has been launched after an alleged assault near a bus stop on Courtenay Place over the weekend left a young man dead.

Luke Smith, 21, was taken to Wellington Hospital with critical injuries after police were called to the hospitality hotspot at 3.20am on Sunday.

Smith had emigrated to New Zealand from South Africa earlier this year and settled in Upper Hutt.

The Post understands he suffered a serious head injury during the alleged attack and was subsequently placed on life support that has now been switched off.

According to Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Leitch, Smith was a much longed for only child, whose parents were devastated by his death.

Smith is due to undergo an autopsy tomorrow, after which his family are planning to return him to South Africa for his funeral.

“We are still working to determine exactly what happened […] Investigators are continuing to comb through evidence, and we need to speak with anyone who saw the incident and has yet to contact us,” Leitch said.

He was particularly keen to hear from two women who had been sitting at a bus stop nearby and likely witnessed the incident.

“A number of others came to the assistance of Luke after the assault, and we would like to speak to these people also and obtain any video and still images people may have of the incident,” he said.

Police ask that anyone with with information about the alleged assault come forward.

Information can be provided to police online or by calling 105 and using the reference number 241006/5414. Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

A 29-year-old man was arrested in relation to the incident on Monday, and charged with wounding with reckless disregard for the safety of the victim.

He appeared in Wellington District Court on Monday and is due to reappear in court on October 21, with further charges possible.

Judge Andy Nicholls granted him bail and suppressed his name.