Whangarei death: Police to interview neighbours

EAGLE-EYED: Officers search the banks and flax bushes surrounding the Waiarohia stream near the Rust Ave bridge looking for items that may be linked to a murder investigation.PHOTO/MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM

A team of police officers will return to a Whangarei street tomorrow to interview neighbours living near a homicide scene in a bid to find any new information that could help with their investigation.

About 10 officers are expected back in Second Ave following the death of 56-year-old resident Michael Patrick Griffin.

Mr Griffin was found at the rear of his Second Ave home with serious head injuries last Sunday about 8am. He was taken to Whangarei Hospital by ambulance but died.

A 16-year-old male was been arrested and charged with the murder of Mr Griffin.

The teenager appeared in the Whangarei Youth Court last Wednesday and was remanded in custody until October 23 when he will appear in the High Court at Whangarei.

Mr Griffin's funeral was to be held today at Morris and Morris funeral home in Kensington, followed by an interment at Maunu Park Lawn Cemetery. There were expected to be police representatives at the funeral.

Head of the investigation, Detective Inspector Kevin Burke, said police would return to the homicide scene and begin to interview neighbours in the avenues area.

"People can expect a call from police if they live nearby. About 10 staff will work their way out from the scene."

Yesterday police were searching further afield from Second Ave, along the banks of the Waiarohia Stream near the Rust Ave bridge, looking for items that could be linked to the murder investigation.

Mr Burke said members of the public had been of significant help and had handed over items that had been sent away for testing to determine wether they were the weapon used in the killing.

He also hoped their canvassing of neighbours would help them determine if anyone else was involved in the death.