Homicide inquiry launched after taxi driver's death

Police have cordoned off View Road in Mt Eden following the alleged stabbing of a taxi driver. Photo / NZPA

A homicide inquiry has been launched following the death of a taxi driver in View Road, Mt Eden, in the early hours of this morning.

The victim has been identified as Hiren Mohini, a 39-year-old Mt Roskill resident.

Mr Mohini was driving an Auckland Co-op taxi, which veered off the road and hit a tree around 1.30am.

Other taxis arrived at the scene within minutes after an internal emergency device inside the taxi was triggered on impact.

View Road residents who were woken by the crash rushed to help Mr Mohini and remove him from the vehicle.

Emergency services were also called but he died at the scene.

A post mortem examination carried out today revealed Mr Mohini had a stab wound to his torso.

Police investigators are interviewing a number of witnesses and wish to speak to a young male who was seen running towards Esplanade Road immediately after the crash.

The man they are seeking is described as a slimly-built, dark-skinned male in his mid to late twenties with long, greasy hair to the back of his neck.

He was wearing a long-sleeved button-up shirt, dark denim jeans and black leather shoes and was carrying a black bag with a strap.

Police believe the man hired Mr Mohini's taxi in the CBD at about 1.20am and they are assessing security surveillance footage for more information.

Auckland Co-operative Taxi Society chairman Ian Graham said Mr Mohini had been with the company for three years.

Mr Graham, said the society was "deeply saddened by the tragic case of Mr Mohini this morning".

"All our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time.

"The company is in shock and anger that a young family man, working hard to provide for his family has been taken in such a senseless act of violence."

Mr Graham said some of Mr Mohini's fellow taxi drivers had attempted to go to his aid but arrived too late.

"It's the comradeship in the guys, we are a society and we try and look after each other."

"He was a very quiet, reserved gentleman. A true family man, loved his family, and all he was doing was going about trying to earn an honest living doing a public service."

Mr Graham said Mr Mohini left a wife, a mother and two young daughters, aged five and two.

A number of Co-op Taxi employees were at Mr Mohini's home today supporting his family.

Other taxi drivers at the scene this morning said safety was always a concern.

"Every night we go out of the house, we are not sure whether we will be safe or not," Bipin Tava told TVNZ.

"We ask (for) some protection, like some partition between driver and passenger, so that we feel safe."

* Police are urging anyone with information to contact them on 0800 444 014 or to call the Crimestoppers line anonymously on 0800 555 111.

- NZ HERALD STAFF, NZPA