Men charged with murder over Wellington assault

Two men have had their assault charges upgraded to murder today over an October 2009 assault in the central Wellington suburb of Te Aro, police say.

Detective Senior Sergeant Scott Miller of the Wellington CIB said the 44-year-old victim never regained consciousness from the assault, which occurred overnight on the 3rd/4th of October, and passed away in Wellington Hospital on the 17th of May 2010.

The men, aged 22 and 23, who have been in custody since the assault, appeared in Wellington District Court today.

They have been granted interim name suppression until tomorrow afternoon and have been remanded in custody to reappear in the Wellington District Court on 19 August 2010.

Police say the name of the victim will not be released until all of his family are aware of the court appearances today.

- NZ Herald staff