Two men have been detained over the killing of a New
Zealand man in a park in Argentina, as the friend who was with
him talks of how she tried to help him survive.
Nicholas Heyward was shot dead in the city of Mendoza during
a robbery.
Police released a man arrested yesterday, but have since
arrested two others.
One who'd bragged about the shooting and the other - who was
with him - because he had a weapon.
One of the men arrested over the killing of a New Zealander
in Argentina matches a police sketch - but witnesses say he's
not the man they saw in the fatal robbery.
Correspondent Jayson McNamara told Newstalk ZB he can't say
if the two arrested are known criminals, but does have some
details of the shooter.
"He's a 19-year-old male who fits the description that was
established by the police sketch.
he had shaved head down the sides and a bit of a mohawk.''
McNamara says the other arrested man was with the first and
carrying a weapon.
Police are keen to get the case out of the international
spotlight.
"I would imagine they'll be keeping the same level of
intensity with this case throughout the coming days. They
really want to solve it as soon as possible,'' adds McNamara
Friend relives Kiwi's killing
A friend who was with Nicholas Heyward when he was killed by
motorcycle bandits in an Argentine park has told how the
fatal chain of events unfolded - and how she tried to treat
his injuries.
Fiona Darling, a 34-year-old Australian, was walking with Mr
Heyward and Frenchman Pierre D'Amico when two men on a
motorbike approached. One was brandishing a gun and yelling
"Give us your camera" to Mr Heyward.
He did everything he could to oblige but the bag strapped
across his body got stuck when he went to take it off, Ms
Darling said.
As the New Zealander was trying to hand it over, the
passenger got off the bike, shot at the ground and lurched
towards Mr Heyward who was frozen with shock. Ms Darling and
Mr D'Amico, 29, ran at the sight of the gun.
Ms Darling gave her account of the incident to police in
Mendoza.
Veronica Albornoz, an officer who works in the police tourist
unit, said Ms Darling saw the gunman and Mr Heyward start
fighting - then she heard more shots.
"When she turned back, she saw Nick fall to the ground," Mrs
Albornoz told the Herald.
Mr Heyward was shot in the right side of his neck, in his
chest and twice in his pelvis with a .22-calibre pistol. Ms
Darling and Mr D'Amico tried to save their friend who was
still conscious in the moments after the attack.
Ms Darling rolled her friend on to his back, performed CPR
and tried to stop the heavy bleeding from Mr Heyward's neck.
But his injuries were too serious and he had lost too much
blood and he passed away within minutes of the attack at
3.40pm on Monday, Argentina time.
Mrs Albornoz has been supporting Mr Heyward's friends and
said both were still in shock.
Mr D'Amico met Mr Heyward two months ago in El Chalten, in
Argentina's southern Patagonia region, and had been
travelling the country with him. Three weeks ago, in
Bariloche, about 1300km south of Mendoza, they met Ms
Darling.
Mrs Albornoz said Mr D'Amico, who speaks Spanish, spent hours
with a police sketch artist to create an image of one of the
attackers who wasn't wearing a helmet.
Police are under pressure to find the killers quickly because
Mr Heyward's friends are leaving the country today.
It is understood Mr Heyward's brother is travelling to
Mendoza to collect his body and take it back to Australia,
where most of his family live. Meanwhile, Security Minister
Leonardo Comperatore has offered his resignation following
the death.
Grandparents' dilemma
The grandparents of Nicholas Heyward are considering whether
they will be able to travel to Australia for his funeral.
Hugh Nees last night told the Herald from his Paraparaumu
home that they were debating whether the trip was realistic.
Mr Nees, 93, said he was not sure if he was capable of the
journey, and his wife Joan, 91, had suffered ill-health
recently.
"She'd very much like to go. I think we are trying to work
out whether she is fit enough to do it. There's nothing
definite about that yet."
He expected the funeral to be held next weekend, although no
date had been settled as arrangements were still being made.
Mr Heyward's mother, Margaret Nees, died in a car crash when
he was younger. He travelled on a New Zealand passport but
lived in Australia with his father and brothers.
He visited his New Zealand grandparents last year before a
period of overseas travel.