Hastings homicide: Man charged with murder after fatal assault near park

• Police have arrested a 28-year-old Hastings man over a suspected homicide in Hastings.
• A 33-year-old man died after an assault and was pronounced dead at Hawke’s Bay Hospital on Sunday evening.
• The accused is charged with murder and appeared in the Hastings District Court on Tuesday.

Police have charged a Hastings man with murder over the death of a 33-year-old man on Sunday evening.

Detective Inspector Martin James said a homicide investigation was launched after the man died in Hawke’s Bay Hospital at about 11pm.

He had been brought into the hospital following an assault near Kirkpatrick Park in Camberley.

“[On Monday] a large team of detectives worked throughout the day, conducting scene examinations at several addresses in the suburb of Camberley and an address in Napier,” James said.

“Resulting from this work, a 28-year-old Hastings man was arrested and charged with murder.

“We are glad to have been able to identify and arrest someone in relation to this tragic incident in short order – we will not accept violence in our community."

The 33-year-old man’s family had been advised of the arrest, James said.

A 28-year-old man appeared in the Hastings District Court on Tuesday and was remanded to next appear in the High Court at Napier on March 7.

He was granted interim name suppression.