2 arrests over alleged North Shore liquor store assault

(Newshub.)
(Newshub.)

Two people have been arrested after a 61-year-old woman was taken to hospital following an alleged serious assault on Auckland's North Shore at around 6:30pm yesterday.

The owner of the Bottle-O liquor store in Glenfield says the injured woman, his mother, was punched in the head by another woman who was stealing from the shop. His mother was taken to hospital in a critical condition but is now stable and recovering after being unconscious for five hours.

A 35-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman have been charged with assault with intent to injure. The 25-year-old woman also faces a charge of shoplifting.

The shop's owner told Newshub a woman and a man came into the store, and then the woman went to the fridge and started drinking a bottle of wine. The owner said he tried to stop her, but the pair yelled at him before taking off with the alcohol.

The owner called police, but almost an hour later the woman appeared outside the store again.

While the owner was on the phone with emergency services, he asked his mother to stand outside the door to see where the woman was heading so he could tell police. But the woman allegedly turned and chased his mother into the store, knocking her down with a heavy punch.

The owner said the woman continued to attack his mother while she was on the ground, and he stepped in to try to stop her. He ended up with large scratches on his forearms.

The 61-year-old woman will stay in Auckland Hospital for several days, the owner and his wife said.

The 25-year-old woman will appear in North Shore District Court tomorrow, and the 35-year-old man will appear in court on Thursday.

Newshub.