Lower Hutt man stabbed to death by masked stranger: Police not doing enough

He claimed the woman told him she had been paid $30,000 to kill him, but would spare his life if he gave her the money instead. He said he told her to leave and report the matter to the police, but she visited several more times in the following months and repeatedly demanded money.

In December, the woman returned with two other people, but this time Munshi and his family were abroad. When the group found the house empty, they broke into Munshi's property.

He filmed the people with his home security system and handed them over to the police. The police made arrests but only charged them with the burglary.

Munshi believes that during her previous visits the woman had hoped to persuade him to pay, but suspects that during her December visit she may have intended to harm him and his family.

Months later, in June this year, Munshi received a call from police saying a former colleague had sent him text messages threatening to kill him. Another officer called him a week later to discuss the matter further, but said he did not believe there was a real threat to his safety.

Just hours after that phone call, Munshi was out walking in the Lower Hutt suburb of Alicetown on June 24 when he was attacked.

He was wearing a headset and talking on the phone with a friend in India when he saw a man in front of him.

“There was a guy who was probably over six feet tall. He was masked and wearing a hood. He said something, but because I had my headset on, I couldn't understand what he was saying,” Munshi said.

As Munshi approached, the man, the lower half of his face covered by a black mask, continued to try to talk to him.

He didn't understand everything the man said, but he heard him mention the person from Munshi's past.

“When he said that, my God … I was scared,” he said. “I just told the guy, 'Look, I don't know why you came, but you know what, I have some money. I'm happy to offer you the money, but please spare my life.'

“Before I finished, he started beating me. I think he hit me all over. He kicked me, he hit me and he stabbed me too.”

Munshi fled to a nearby tree, but was pursued by the attacker, who continued to beat him while Munshi offered to call his family and get them to transfer more money to the man.

The man made some parting threats before fleeing the scene, and Munshi crawled to a nearby doorstep to get help.

“I went to this house, there's a glass door. I knocked on this door. I have vivid memories of a girl, a boy and I think a woman. They wouldn't open the door.”

The residents of the house called 111 and the next thing Munshi knew was that the police came and took him to the hospital.

Hospital discharge certificates viewed by the Herald show that he was admitted with blunt injuries to his face and two stab wounds to his thigh.

One of the entries in his records noted that a nurse could not understand what Munshi was saying because he was shaking so violently and screaming in pain when his leg was moved.

After receiving treatment and painkillers, he was discharged from the hospital the next morning. However, Munshi said he continues to experience pain in his leg and has to take several medications and antibiotics. Even months after the attack, he still has a stiff gait.

Munshi and his family have lived in fear ever since. His youngest son, 14, regularly sent him text messages telling him to “be careful” and would panic if he didn't know where either of his parents was or if they didn't answer their phones.

Nearly three months after the stabbing, Munshi fears the next attack could be imminent as police have made no progress in tracking down the perpetrator. He also believes someone is still stalking him.

He also received an anonymous message in his mailbox naming the alleged attacker and claiming he was hired. He said police did not come to collect the message and the named man has yet to be questioned.

He is frustrated by the inaction and believes that the police should do more to catch the “perpetrator” behind the attacks.

The police confirmed to Herald On June 15, they received a report from a former colleague of Munshi's “informing her that she had received text messages from an unknown number containing threats against Mr Munshi.”

“On June 24, 2024, police were informed that Mr. Munshi had apparently been injured in a stabbing,” the police spokeswoman said.

“Police are investigating the injuries sustained by Mr Munshi and the threats sent via text message to his former colleague.

“Officers are working to support Mr Munshi and his family and a security plan has been put in place.

“Police recognise the frustration expressed by Mr Munshi in this matter. This is still an ongoing investigation that is progressing and police are in contact with him to keep him updated.”

Anyone with information that may assist the police investigation into this matter is asked to contact the police on 105, quoting case number 240624/5214.

Melissa Nightingale is a Wellington-based reporter covering crime, justice and news from the capital. She joined the Herald in 2016 and has been a journalist for 10 years.