'Vampire' attack in Wellington

Last updated 05:00 06/05/2010

A man was bitten by three people and had his blood drunk in an alleged vampire-type attack in the dark on Wellington's Mt Victoria.

Two men and a woman have been charged with wounding with intent to render a man unconscious in relation to the bizarre attack on February 20.

James Phillip Brooks, 22, and Xenia Gregoriana Borichevsky, 19, were at Wellington District Court yesterday.

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of the third accused, James Eric Orr, 19.

Brooks told The Dominion Post yesterday that all three bit the victim, but he did not draw blood. "Do I look like a vampire?

The three were jointly charged last month with wounding with intent to render a man unconscious on the night of February 20, court documents show.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in jail.

It is understood the victim passed out after being bitten.

Cases of people biting others and drinking their blood are rare and dangerous, as a person's mouth harbours more bacteria than a cat's or dog's.

Outside the court yesterday Brooks said he, his girlfriend, a friend and the victim – who has interim name suppression – left a party and were walking over Mt Victoria when the attack happened.

He understood there was blood drinking but said: "That wasn't me.

"Do I look like a vampire? I'm out during the day time. I may look like a punk but I'm not a punk. I'm just different," he told The Dominion Post.

Brooks admitted biting the man but did not think he had punctured the flesh.

"Yeah, I bit a guy ... he hit on my missus. My girlfriend and my mate were biting him. I was angry with him, so I used it as an excuse.

"I didn't bite him to hurt him. I bit him because I was pissed off with him and he was my mate and I didn't want to hurt him.

"If I'd hit him, I'd have really hurt him, so I thought I'll bite him seeing as they're already biting him.

"[Drinking blood] wasn't my agenda, I was just angry ..."

Police would not discuss any details of the case because it is before the courts.

In court yesterday Borichevsky's bail conditions were relaxed after her lawyer, John Miller, asked the judge to lift her night-time curfew. She wanted to do activities such as attend evening dance classes and visit friends in Otaki.

From: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/3662417/Vampire-attack-in-Wellington