Man pleads guilty to stabbing partner to death

Parmita Rani, 22, died following the incident at AWI International Education Group building. Photo / Facebook

A man accused of stabbing his partner to death after she had finished an exam has pleaded guilty to murder.

Mandeep Singh, 29, appeared in the High Court at Auckland this morning charged with murder and attempted murder after the May incident in the Auckland CBD.

He previously pleaded not guilty to the charges but, while sobbing in the dock, changed his mind this morning.

Parmita Rani, 22, died following the incident at AWI International Education Group building on Queen St, where it is understood the Manurewa woman had just sat an exam.

A 22-year-old man - Parminder Sandhu - was also stabbed in the neck and was taken to Auckland Hospital with serious injuries.

Witnesses who spoke to NZME. News Service shortly after the incident spoke of hearing screaming and seeing people covered in blood.

One said Ms Rani had just sat a level seven IT exam when the alleged offender met her at the school.

The young woman had arrived in New Zealand from India only last year. It is believed her father died when she was a child and her mother passed away this year.

Another friend said her India-based brother was her only surviving relative.

The witness had been studying IT with Ms Rani for the past 18 months and described her as his best friend.

"She was very kind, she was a very friendly girl. She always took some food for me."

He said a man arrived at the school about 8.30am and had waited for the woman to finish her exam.

Several people had seen a knife and she was warned not to go downstairs.

Singh was remanded in custody until next month for sentencing.