Death of man jailed over toddler's death not suspicious - police

Tyrone Box in 2007. File photo / NZPA

The death of a Mongrel Mob gang associate who was jailed over the drive-by shooting death of a Wanganui toddler is not suspicious, police say.

The body of 26-year-old Tyrone Box was found by a member of the public in Te Mana Park in Wanganui on Monday night.

The Wanganui man was jailed in 2008 for his part in the shooting of 2-year-old Jhia Harmony Te Tua.

Box, who was 19 at the time of the shooting, had been a back-seat passenger in a vehicle from which shots were fired as it drove past the toddler's Gonville home on May 5, 2007.

One of the bullets struck Jhia as she lay sleeping on the couch, killing her instantly.

The following year, Box and an associate, James William Challis, also a back-seat passenger in the vehicle, pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter, and were both sentenced to seven years in prison.

Police today said they were not treating Box's death as suspicious.

A post-mortem examination, carried out today, revealed no evidence of injury or trauma. Further medical tests were now underway to determine how Box died.

His death has been referred to the coroner.