Earlier that night, Cornelius, 38, had been thrown in the boot of a car following a late-night altercation near Golden Takeaways in central Palmerston North. He had mistaken one of the kidnappers for an associate of his – an easy mistake when they drive the same car. Cornelius asked: “Allan, is that you? But Allan was the guy the others were hunting. If Cornelius knew Allan, then he must also know where he was hiding, the attackers concluded, and they shoved him in the boot.
DAVID UNWIN/STUFF
Leighton Cornelius has battled methamphetamine addiction for more than 20 years. Cornelius was eventually dumped at Dudding Lake, a remote recreational facility about 40 kilometres northeast of Palmerston North.