Man charged with Sth Auckland murder

A 34-year-old man has been remanded in custody on a charge of murder after another man died in hospital last night.

Salofa Aiono was charged with the murder of Sanele Sanato, 36, who was also known as Kapelielu Motunuu, from Glen Innes.

Aiono appeared briefly in the Manukau District Court today to be remanded to April for a pre-depositions hearing.

The charge followed an assault on Wednesday night in Manurewa.

Mr Sanato was taken to Middlemore Hospital but died yesterday.

Detective Senior Sergeant Gary Lendrum said 20 police were working on the inquiry but were not looking for anyone else and no further charges would be laid.

The two men were believed to have been friends.

- NZPA