[macuser]

www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=508799&in_page_id=1811

Just in case you haven't see this yet. Terribly sad.

Check out Phil from Berkshire's comment following the article. Hope that's not true.

Helen

[veronica]

its always a tragedy when something like this happens. no way of knowing the details preceding it until the investigation gets more info. As for Phil's comments, he doesn't say where he was when he was accosted or his car damaged but he seems to have been unfortunate and been in the wrong place at the wrong time twice. there is violence here same as everywhere, but it is often localised and more often domestic/drug or gang related. When you live somewhere you get to know areas where its less risk, as a tourist its not so easy. Having said that I wouldn't feel safe walking though some areas of the UK and here we live on the edge of the city near one of the worst areas of Christchurch, the dreaded LInwood lol. and Pete and I regularly walk the dogs round the streets both in daylight and after dark and the only accosting we have had was a group of lads calling out of their car.

[Red Devil]

That's tragic news... we're visiting Taupo during our 3 week 'reccie' trip in April, it will certainly keep us on our toes with this kind of news.

There's some sick, crazy people out there!!!

[xanctus]

So sad indeed...
I just went to Taupo on the 1st week of Jan with my parent and sister's fam. They commented how safe and nice NZ is, and knowing these kind of facts it's a shame really.

I mean, every country/place must have domestic violence...but why on earth these criminals attacking people randomly? are they bored or something? or simply...killing others is just another human life thing? just like "buying a luxury car"?

Have you guys heard two attacks on North Shore in Auckland? again...some random innocent people???

[Scotty69]

I had a call from my mother today telling me about a young girl from Scotland being murdered in the town of Taupo NZ, terrible news, i feel so sorry for what her family must be going throw just now.:mad: The thing is my mother now is trying to tell me that NZ is now a very bad place and if anything happened that we would be at the other end of the world I've tried to explain to her comming from Glasgow and lived in London for 16 years before going back to Glasgow that these kind of things can happen here OR anywhere as a matter of fact and believe me Glasgow is a very SCARY place to walk about late at night these days. I'm sure their will be a few people out their on this forum whose family is now bringing this up and telling them dont go but as i said before it is such a terrible thing to happen to such a young person OR person and do feel for the family but i hope i dont sound very cold as im not as this thing can happen anywhere to anyone. Natasha

[ellenmelon]

i agree with you. unfortunately these things happen everyday all over the world.

i wanted to post something earlier but i wasnt able to verbalise how sad i feel about the loss of karen and i didnt even know her. i think its the fact that a link to her bebo has been published and we can see what a joy filled person she was. im really sad about it :(

[macuser]

But what about those horrific statistics released yesterday that 5 children are shot or stabbed, (not killed) in London EVERY DAY!

Maybe its because the Taupo murder is NOT the norm that it has hit the news.

Helen

[ellenmelon]

But what about those horrific statistics released yesterday that 5 children are shot or stabbed, (not killed) in London EVERY DAY!

Maybe its because the Taupo murder is NOT the norm that it has hit the news.

Helen

the fact that she wasnt raped or robbed indeed makes it abnormal.

those poor wee children :no

[Scotty69]

Hi macuser i agree with you on that one also in Glagow the amount of young deaths i have heard about in the year that ive been home is never on the news or in the papers and this is one of the things that scare us bringing up our 4 year old son Natasha

[Familyofmonkeys]

But what about those horrific statistics released yesterday that 5 children are shot or stabbed, (not killed) in London EVERY DAY!



Now that really is horrible :(

[Red Devil]

I read the report yesterday and also heard the news on Radio 2 this morning whilst driving into work... what's the first thing every said when I arrive in work... "have you heard of that dreadful murder in New Zealand, I didn't know that sort of thing went on there regularly". I'm hoping it doesn't and that it's an isolated case and because of that it's made headline news across the world. I still find it sad how this sort of thing can go on in today's society, no matter where you are in the world. Our view on life changed after the birth of our son 5 years ago... all that's important to us now is finding a comfortable, stable and safe place in which to grow up in... I hope we find that with New Zealand.

[audiolympics]

I'm new here - I'm in Britain but considering a move to NZ. I'd just like to say how the UK government massages statistics. This made me particularly angry with the case of Garry Newlove's murder.

On the BBC, the on-the-ground reporter was asked how prevalent such attacks were becoming. He said that the murder rate is actually dropping. Well, it is, but only because judges are having huge pressure put upon them by the Home Office to return manslaughter verdicts. The politically correct BBC reporter would have known this, but chose not to give the figures for 'unlawful killing', which would have been more revealing.