St Johns Rd homicide: Court appearance for youth, 16, charged with murder, woman, 32, also arrested

• A 16-year-old appeared in court charged with aggravated robbery and murder after the death of Kyle Whorrall.
• Whorrall, a 33-year-old PhD student, was attacked at an Auckland bus stop.
• A 32-year-old North Shore woman has also been charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder.

The teenager accused of murdering 33-year-old American entomology student Kyle Whorrall has been remanded in custody.

He appeared in the Auckland District Court today charged with aggravated robbery and murder.

His case has been transferred to the High Court at Auckland for his next appearance on May 14.

As a youth, he has automatic name suppression.

A 32-year-old, charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder, also appeared and was granted interim name suppression.

Charging documents seen by the Herald allege she “actively suppressed” evidence against the teen by selling a car to help him escape after arrest.

She has been remanded until the same date without plea.

Auckland University student Kyle Whorrall was attacked at a bus stop and died later in hospital.

Police say two occupants of the erratically-driven vehicle attacked Whorrall while he was sitting alone at a bus stop in Meadowbank on Saturday night.

Whorrall was struck with a “long” weapon at around 10pm, suffering multiple head injuries, and later died in hospital.

Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin said this morning police had executed a search warrant late yesterday afternoon at an address in Beach Haven, on Auckland’s North Shore.

“A 16-year-old male was arrested and charged with aggravated robbery and murder.”

Police had “obtained further information” about a black SUV that became the subject of a media appeal when Baldwin held a press conference about the case on Tuesday.

“The Operation Aberfeldy team commenced investigations into this vehicle of interest and its movements.

“I can confirm we have now located this vehicle on the North Shore and it has been seized by police with a detailed forensic examination under way.”

Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin Police at a stand-up earlier this week about the fatal St Johns Rd bus stop attack. Photo / Michael Craig

Baldwin said police were aware there were other occupants in the vehicle at the time of the crime.

“This investigation is by no means over.

“Our inquiries are ongoing to locate these persons of interest, and I encourage them to do the right thing and come into their nearest police station or phone us.”

Baldwin acknowledged the support of the community, and further afield.

“There has been a stream of information that has come into us, and we are working through this.

“We value and appreciate the community support.”

Baldwin said police were still working to fully understand the events of Saturday night.

Vigil held for Kyle Whorrall at Meadowbank bus stop

On Thursday morning a tearful vigil was held at a bus stop on St Johns Rd to pay tribute to Whorrall.

Kyle’s flatmates, who described themselves as his “chosen family”, broke down as they tried to speak.

“He was gentle, he was kind, he was very thoughtful,” one of the five flatmates said.

They loved how he would “geek out” over the “weirdest things” that he would love.

They said he was passionate, about more than just bugs.

Kyle Whorrall's flatmates at a vigil for him at St Johns Rd on April 24, 2025. Photo / Dean Purcell

He loved sewing and his stuffed animals and was a fantastic friend. He was a master board game player and was very social despite his shy nature.

“He cared so deeply about what he did… the sweetest person.”

The person holding the ceremony, from the St John’s Theological College, shared messages from Whorrall’s family overseas and the community.

• A GoFundMe has been set up to support Whorrall’s family. To donate please click here

“His life was taken in a foreign land. This tragedy has affected us all very deeply. So today we gather here to show our aroha for his family, his friends and colleagues.

“We gather in solidarity, in love and in pain. We will not fully understand how hard and how painful this must be [for his family].

“No matter how long we have been here… our neighbourhood has been a peaceful and lovely place to live."

A friend said he was quiet and shy, but the group gathered was a “true testament” of his character.

Anyone with information is being asked to contact police online or call 105 using the reference number 250419/9858.

Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

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