Three charged following Taupo man's death

Wiremu Birch

Three men will appear in court tomorrow charged in connection with the incident which resulted in the death of 19-year-old Wiremu Birch in Taupo yesterday.

The men aged 23, 27 and 32 were arrested by police at various addresses later that day.

All three have been charged with grievous bodily harm and were due to appear at
Rotorua District Court today.

The investigation is continuing and police haven't ruled out further arrests and charges.

Police still want to hear from anyone in the area of Rifle Range Rd, Hinekura Ave or Hinemoa Ave, Taupo who saw or heard anything suspicious between 2.30am and 3.30am.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Taupo police
on (07) 378 6060. Alternatively information can be provided anonymously via
Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

A homicide investigation has been launched and a post mortem will be carried
out in Auckland tomorrow morning to establish cause of death.

Detective Senior Sergeant Graham Perks spoke to media at the scene of the homicide investigation this morning and said police were wanting the public's help.

Mr Perks would not speculate on whether the death was gang-related.

Mr Perks said police were waved down by a member of the public. Officers tried to give first aid but he died on his way to Taupo Hospital.

Mr Birch was found by a security guard on his way home.

Police at the scene of a homicide investigation in Taupo. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER

Senjo Security director Leon Rihia said the guard and another staff member saw the man lying there and stopped to see what was going on.

Mr Rihia said the guard didn't know what had happened when he stopped and was "a bit freaked out".

The guard said the victim's girlfriend was "right there".

"He couldn't get nothing out her. She was just standing there bawling
her eyes out," he told the Rotorua Daily Post this morning.

Police want to hear from anyone in the area of Rifle Range Rd, near Hinemoa Rd and Hinekura Ave, between 2.30am and 3.30am.

"We believe there are people out there who will know who is responsible. We encourage those people to come forward and speak to police."

Mr Perks said as far as he was concerned it was an isolated incident but he would not speculate on why he believed that.

He said police had spoken to the man's family, who were being offered support.

A weapon has not yet been recovered.

Police said the incident was believed to have occurred at approximately 3.15am.

It is believed Mr Birch was stabbed and he had been involved in an altercation. The scene was cordoned off with tents erected to protect the area from the poor weather conditions.

Police and ESR will be carrying out a forensic examination of the scene and area inquiries are ongoing.