By Janika ter Ellen
Napier police believe they've found the knife used in what seems to be a baffling and brutal attack, that happened not long after the New Year's fireworks display.
They also have a witness who was there at the time, and was himself attacked.
Wilbour Hicko didn't want his face revealed - he's afraid he'll be recognised on the street by his attackers, three men who leapt from the shadows, taking him and his friend by surprise.
"It was forceful, it was brutal, just chaos," says Mr Hicko. "Everyone was going for it."
Mr Hicko and Luke Brown had been enjoying the New Year's fireworks display on the Napier waterfront - they were returning home when they were ambushed.
"The victim and his friend were walking down here, they were surrounded here, and then they were attacked in the middle of the road," says Sgt Emmet Lynch.
Mr Hicko was punched and kicked, but Mr Brown was stabbed and beaten to within an inch of his life.
He is now on life support here at Hawke's Bay Hospital with a laceration to his stomach and bowel, a punctured lung, broken ribs and a serious head injury.
"We could be dealing with a death here," says Sgt Lynch.
Family are holding vigil at his bedside.
"Try and experience what our family are going through, if you haven't already," says his aunty, Sharon Brown.
Police say the attack was unprovoked, and neither victim has gang connections. But the attackers might.
"A witness we've spoken to has heard the word 'yo' mentioned during the attack they've heard outside their property," says Sgt Lynch. "This would indicate to us that a Black Power or associate may be involved in the attack."
A neighbour found the kitchen knife believed to have been used in the attack and police are speaking to the witnesses, but there are no suspects.
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