Homicide investigation – Kaitaia - update

Homicide investigation – Kaitaia - update

A 29-year-old father of four was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the Kaitaia Hospital at about 10.30 pm on Saturday night.

Kaitaia Police have a team of 17 staff working on the homicide inquiry following the death of the man.

As part of that inquiry they are investigating a preceding incident that is believed to have occurred on Fairburn Road.

Included in the police resources are a number of child specialists, helping to provide support to four children aged between three and 13 who were witnesses to the event.

Child Youth and Family have assisted by providing specialist interviewers and ongoing trauma counselling.

Detective Senior Sergeant Rhys Johnston said, "We are doing everything we can to try and support these children.

They have witnessed a very traumatic event and have lost a dearly loved relative.

Police are working closely with CYF and Victim Support to provide whatever help we can to the family."

Police are carrying out a number of scene examinations today and into tomorrow, including a roadside scene and the victim's vehicle, which was recovered nearby.

The body of the victim will undergo a forensic postmortem in Auckland tomorrow.

A 50-year-old local man was arrested without incident in the early hours of Sunday morning and he will make his first appearance in the Kaitaia District Court on tomorrow morning.

ENDS

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