Murder charge laid over Hamilton death

One of two people arrested in relation to the discovery of an elderly man's body in a Hamilton public toilet last night has appeared in court charged with murder.

The man, 26, was given interim name suppression after appearing in the Hamilton District Court facing charges of murder, unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and failing to stop.

The woman who is also facing charges received police bail this afternoon and is set to appear in court at a later date.

Matthew Bates, acting as agent on behalf of the male accused's counsel Tom Sutcliffe, successfully argued for suppression from Judge Merelina Burnett, however she said it would lapse in 10 days time.

The man, wearing a blue boiler suit, appeared aggravated as he first came in to the dock.

Mr Bates said he needed to get a section 38 report - psychiatric report - for his client and wanted further issues to be sorted before his name is made public.

He was remanded in custody until next month to reappear in the High Court at Hamilton.

Police cordoned off the eastern section of London St, which is mostly full of businesses apart from one apartment block, today as they carried out their forensic examination of the scene.

Police said there waa still a lot of investigation and forensic work to be completed to try and piece together the evidence that will reconstruct events.

Police ask the public to be patient as we work to clear this scene so people's days are not inconvenienced more than absolutely necessary.

The identity of the man is believed to be known however proper and formal identity is not yet confirmed, therefore his name is not able to be released. Police are working to be able to facilitate this as soon as possible.

Anyone who was near the intersection of London and Victoria streets about 9pm yesterday, and observed any suspicious behaviour, was asked to contact Hamilton police on 07 858 6200.

The man's death bears stark similarities to that of another elderly man found dead near the London St public toilets in June 2010.

Three teenagers were jailed for the murder of 74-year-old Donald Alfred Stewart.

Mr Stewart, of Wellington, was found dead with head injuries near the public toilet.

His Peugeot car was later found at an Auckland wrecker's yard and a forensic examination was carried out.

Mr Stewart was captured on security footage filling his car with petrol in Hamilton the night before he was found dead, and the car was seen early the next day in a ditch in the city.

Ben Purua was 15 when he and co-offenders William Frederick Izett, then 17, and Connor Rewha-Te Wara, also 15, unleashed a barrage of kicks and punches on Mr Stewart after they bumped into him leaving the toilets.