A 14-year-old boy has become one of the youngest people in New Zealand to face a murder charge after he was arrested over the death of a man in Tokoroa yesterday.
The Tokoroa youth was charged just hours after the 22-year-old man was found near the corner of St Andrews Drive and Fife Place early yesterday morning. The 14-year-old is in police custody and will appear in the Youth Court at Rotorua on Tuesday.
The killing was the ninth violent death this month. The dead man's name had not been released last night.
Police launched yesterday's homicide investigation after a woman returning home from work about 2.15am found the man. Paramedics were called, but the man died shortly after arriving at Tokoroa Hospital.
Last night police refused to be drawn on the cause of death, saying they would have to wait for the results of a post-mortem examination which was to be carried out today.
However, the Herald on Sunday understands the victim suffered serious stab wounds.
The scene of the murder was just a few streets away from Strathmore School where Tokoroa teacher Lois Dear was killed 18 months ago.
The street where the man was found was cordoned off for most of yesterday while police carried out their inquiries, which included interviews with residents in the area.
When asked if police were seeking anyone else in connection with the attack, investigation head Inspector Rob Jones would only say "extensive inquiries" were continuing.
Jones would not speculate on the victim's movements on Saturday night, saying it was still "too early" to comment.
One woman said she heard yelling, screaming and swearing on the street early yesterday.
Another resident, Iwi Bennion, said she was shocked to wake early yesterday to flashing lights and sirens, having not heard a thing.
"We hear the odd argument around here but this would be about the worst thing that's happened."
The street was not considered dangerous, she said.
TM
