By JO-MARIE BROWN
A pathologist has found John Eric Sorrenson was stabbed in the chest and dealt multiple blows to his head during a fatal attack in the lounge of his Mamaku home on Sunday.
The body of the 56-year-old was yesterday retrieved from a shallow grave in forest 4km south
of Putaruru and taken to Tauranga for an autopsy.
The killing has shocked the small Mamaku community and an angry friend of Mr Sorrenson's yesterday lashed out at the 19 year-old charged with his murder when he appeared in the Rotorua District Court.
Jason Mark Fergusson, an unemployed man from Matamata, made a brief appearance before Judge Philip Cooper but was then threatened by a man sitting in the public gallery who lunged forward and yelled "see you in Waikeria" as the accused left the dock.
Detectives quickly bundled the man outside when Fergusson's friends, who were also in court, shouted abuse back at him.
Defence lawyer Harry Edward did not apply for bail and asked for a psychiatric report.
Fergusson looked distressed in court and Mr Edward later said Waikeria Prison staff were keeping him under a 24-hour suicide watch.
Detective Senior Sergeant Garth Bryan said police believed Mr Sorrenson picked up a hitchhiker last Saturday.
That person then spent the weekend at his Mamaku home, 20km northwest of Rotorua, where the IHC caregiver lived with Eric Olsen, an intellectually handicapped man. Police would not confirm yesterday whether Fergusson was that hitchhiker.
Fergusson was arrested after Mr Sorrenson's car became stuck on a forestry back road between Mamaku and Putaruru, early on Monday morning.
Logging truck drivers pulled the vehicle free and later realised the white Nissan belonged to Mr Sorrenson and phoned police. Search warrants were executed in Putaruru and Matamata, where Fergusson and the missing car were found.
Forensic scientists yesterday continued examining Mr Sorrenson's home and car.
Eric Olsen, who had lived with Mr Sorrenson for more than 16 years and has bipolar disorder, is being cared for by a friend in Mamaku.
A funeral is expected to be held early next week.
