By Paul Dykes The young man killed in a possible carjacking in Auckland worked in Tauranga for four years and still has family in the Bay. Police have named the man found dead in suburban west Auckland on Friday as Stuart Michael Stone, 23, a print press operator from Avondale. Print production workersat the Bay of Plenty Times say Mr Stone worked alongside them for several years from 2002 before taking a job with Suburban Newspapers in Auckland. John Gilbert, the newspaper's deputy production manager, said Mr Stone emigrated to Tauranga from Leeds in the United Kingdom with his parents when he was 17, and joined the Bay Times staff a year later in advertising production. "He was a real vibrant sort of kid," Mr Gilbert said today, "a tremendous young kid - it has knocked us all here". Mr Stone had completed a design course and proved to be a very willing worker. "He didn't have a violent bone in his body, it's so sad this. We'd like to send our condolences to his family." The Stone family did not wish to comment further this morning. Mr Stone was found dead in the west Auckland suburb of Waterview in a house in Seaside Avenue, Inspector Barry Smalley said. Mr Stone's body was found about 9.40pm, shortly before police arrested a man who allegedly confronted them armed with knives at a house in nearby Alverston St. Police confirmed yesterday that a suspected carjacking was one theory being investigated. If this proves correct, it will be the first fatal carjacking in New Zealand. Yesterday, David Francis Fa, 23, appeared in Auckland District Court charged with assault with a weapon and possession of an offensive weapon. He was not charged with murder but police said they were not seeking anyone else in connection with the death. Police inquiries are continuing. Police said that soon after the body was found there were two "very tense" incidents when Fa, armed with knives, allegedly confronted police. "Threats were made to other officers at that address. A large contingent of police went. After a short while a man came out of that house with two knives," said Detective Inspector David Pearson. - Additional reporting NZPA
