Police have found the knife believed to have been used to kill Christchurch taxi driver Abdulrahman Ikhtiari.
Mr Ikhtiari was found dead next to his cab in Worcester St, central Christchurch, five days ago.
Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Johnson said police found the knife yesterday after executing a
search warrant.
Two teenagers, aged 16 and 19, have been charged with Mr Ikhtiari's murder.
The dead man's family are feeling some relief that his alleged killers are off the streets, but it has not lessened their grief.
Mr Ikhtiari, 39, died after being stabbed early on Saturday in central Christchurch - a tragic end for a father of five whose family fled persecution in Afghanistan before being picked up by the Norwegian freighter Tampa, and finding refuge in New Zealand.
His widow has been so devastated by her loss that she has needed hospital treatment.
A family spokesman told the Herald the family was a very tight one and Mr Ikhtiari's widow was finding it very hard.
Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Johnson, who is leading the police investigation into the killing, said the family was relieved after being told of the arrests.
The two murder accused appeared briefly in court yesterday.
The 16-year-old wept during his appearance in the Youth Court. Because of his age he cannot be named.
He did not seek bail and will be held in a police cell until a bed becomes available in a youth justice facility.
Supporters in the public gallery called to him as he was led away, with one saying: "I love you."
The 19-year-old also did not seek bail and a supporter called to him: "I love you bro," as he was taken away into custody. He has name suppression until at least 5pm today.
Both will reappear in court this month.
Christchurch lawyer Andrew Oh, who knew Mr Ikhtiari through the school both their children attend, said he had had contact from as far away as Australia from people wanting to donate to a trust for the Ikhtiari family.
"Everyone I have talked to who does know him have said what a great person he was. He certainly helped among the school ferrying kids to and from sports events, and he turned up to community meetings - and he participated. And you can't ask for any more than that."
- Additional reporting: NZPA
