The Radio New Zealand journalist bashed to death shortly after clocking off his night shift may have been killed for a bit of loose change, says his boss.
Phillip Cottrell, 43, died in Wellington Hospital yesterday, a day after he was viciously beaten in the central city's Boulcott Street minutes after he left work on The Terrace about 5.30am.
He suffered severe brain damage in the attack, which was one of three apparently unrelated beatings in the city early on Saturday. The two other victims escaped serious injury.
An investigation is under way into the attack on Mr Cottrell, with police seeking out CCTV footage and information from anyone in the area at the time.
Radio New Zealand head of news, Don Rood, told the station the death of their overnight bulletins editor, which had shocked the newsroom.
"Never in my worst nightmares did I ever imagine that I'd have to handle the death of a colleague and staff member who didn't die doing their job, but was killed in a brutal and unprovoked attack in the street only minutes after leaving the office," he says.
He described Mr Cottrell, a Briton who had worked at Radio New Zealand for five years, as a "nice guy" who was never aggressive or antagonistic. He suffered from a rare medical condition that made his bones brittle, making him more susceptible to injury.
Police have said his wallet was stolen in the attack, indicating the attackers struck for the sake of a few dollars and a credit card.
"It's just pathetic," says Mr Rood.
"Phillip wasn't the sort of person that would go around provoking trouble; he was not that sort of person."
Mr Rood said the company had concerns about inner-city safety in the wake of the attacks, with management due to have a "long talk" about improving security for staff.
Lloyd Scott, a presenter on the All Night Programme and one of Mr Cottrell's closest friends, said his mate was extremely talented and mild-mannered.
Mr Scott says Mr Cottrel’s health condition made him very vulnerable.
"Even if he'd been pushed and his head bashed against the wall and he fell down on his arm that might have caused the horrendous injuries he ended up with," he told the station.
NZN