“Eddie had spent the evening at Diaz Drive at the tangi for an old friend, a senior member of the Mongrel Mob.
“We know that Eddie left there at about 11.30pm. He was attacked by one or more people further along Diaz Drive. The reasons as to why this happened are not entirely clear, but we need people to speak up and tell us what they know and who was involved.”
Police said up to 50 people, largely patched gang members, also visited the property on November 15 to pay their respects.
There were varying reports around his level of intoxication and behaviour at the tangi, and it’s possible he may have been “cheeky” to others resulting in a verbal altercation and ultimately, to his violent beating.
Police believe he was chased further along Diaz Drive by three young men and a dog just before midnight.
One of the men was aged in his 20s wearing a black patch and the other two were wearing red patches. Two of the males (including the man in the black patch) are thought to be aged in their 20s and the third male in his late teens with his red patch appearing to be “oversized” or ill-fitting on him. “Crucially, all three are thought to be from the Hastings chapter of the Mongrel Mob.”
While fears of gang reprisals made witnesses reluctant to give statements during the initial investigation, police want to give the community safe options to talk to police. “This was a serious assault which led to a man’s death. Eddie’s whānau continue to grieve for their loved father and friend. We’re hoping new details and fresh information will help us get the answers they need.”
●Any information call 0800 Cold Case: 0800 2653 2273.
