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Live: Police at murder scene in Aucklands inner West
Posted by nzherald.co.nz on Tuesday, 26 September 2017
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Police have now identified and located the man they were looking for after the death of a 69-year-old at a Great North Rd apartment building.
Police were called to an address on Great North Road late last night after a man's body was found at the stairwell of an address.
Earlier today they appealed for information that could help them identify a man caught on the building's CCTV cameras before the death.
Detective Inspector Scott Beard said police had now located a 29-year-old man in central Auckland.
"He is now assisting us with our inquiries and we cannot rule out the possibility of charges being laid," Beard said.
Police were called to the Great North Rd flats about 11pm and launched a homicide investigation.
Beard said the victim suffered a number of injuries. The body is expected to be removed later today for post mortem.
"We have found some CCTV and have released photos of a man police believe can help with out investigation," Beard said.
Beard said the CCTV footage came from the apartment complex. Police were unsure if the man in the photos was known to the victim.
Police have spoken to his family today and said they were understandably grieving.
Beard said the man was believed to live alone.
Whether the man in the CCTV footage had been inside the victim's apartment would be part of the investigation.
Earlier, more than 15 police in blue and white overalls and covered shoes scoured a grassy reserve near the block of flats on Great North Rd and forensic officers dusted for fingerprints on a doorway and in the stairwell of the block. Others are interviewing neighbours.
"We are in the very early stages of our investigation and are still in the process of identifying the victim," Beard said.
The block of one- and two-bedroom flats backs onto Ivanhoe Rd, a cul-de-sac near the Northwestern Motorway.
The man lives on third floor of the building closest to the road.
A woman who lives in the building said the victim was her neighbour.
She said it was "scary and upsetting" to think that a person she knew well had been killed.
"I just don't know who would do such a thing," she said.
She was away from her home last night and another neighbour called her this morning.
"My neighbour thought it was me," she said.
"It's just so sad."
The man's neighbour said he lived alone. Most people in the building were older, she said.
His neighbour said he lived alone.
"He was pretty quiet ... why did they kill him? He was a nice man, he was a nice person."
The flats have been cordoned off with police tape.
A witness said about 18 officers were onsite and about 10 police cars have parked near the property.
A tent has been put up on the street outside and another near the entrance to the flats.
Housing New Zealand would not answer questions about the investigation or what it was doing to ensure the safety of the other tenants.
"Housing New Zealand will not be making any comment on this matter as it is the subject of an ongoing police investigation," communications manager Glenn Conway said.
Anyone with information about the murder, is asked to contact their local police station or Detective Sergeant Phil Cox on (09) 302 6557.
Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.