The Herald this morning reports that a former National MP is under investigation for assault.
A former National MP allegedly punched another customer in the face as shocked tellers looked on at an inner-city Wellington bank after an argument over a parking space.
Wellington police yesterday confirmed receiving a complaint from a man alleging he had been assaulted by another man on Monday last week in Courtenay Place. They said the incident was still under investigation.
Westpac spokesman Chris Mirams said there was an incident in the bank’s Courtenay Place branch that day and said Westpac was co-operating with the police.
The Herald has spoken to the victim of the alleged assault who said the incident arose from a disputed car park outside the bank.
The man, who did not wish to be named, said he had parked his car in a space outside the bank which another motorist had been intending to use. Words were exchanged, and while he was retrieving items from his car the other motorist, who had by that stage parked his vehicle elsewhere, tried to shut the car door on his legs.
Although “it didn’t really hurt at all”, the man said they exchanged further words when both were in the bank a few moments later.
However once the motorist completed his transaction “he just turned around and gave me a good old whack … a swinging right arm across the face”, the man said.
I’m not sure when former MPs deserve the protection that members of the public get while their cases are being investigated – but the problem with this story is that dozens of former MPs are implicated. While it is unlikely that Simon Power or Simon Upton were involved they are in that group of male former Nat MPs. I didn’t mention Don McKinnon because the suspect was driving and Don seems to be driven these days
The Herald should have named the suspect.
And if the suspect is on the Nat list John Key should get on the phone and tell him to do the decent thing.




