Kawakawa, Northland – Police have arrested a suspect on murder charges following the discovery of a body in a car near a service station in Northland. The grim find was made yesterday morning at a carpark near the Caltex petrol station on Station Rd in Kawakawa. Initially treated as an unexplained death, investigators now believe the victim was the target of a violent assault, according to Detective Inspector Rhys Johnston.
A 49-year-old man found in close proximity to the crime scene has been charged with murder and is scheduled to appear in the Kaikohe District Court. Authorities have shared a photo of a black Ford Falcon, with the registration number BYM765, which was located at the scene and subsequently towed away for further investigation. Police had visited the Caltex station at 7:15 am on the day of the incident.
With the case still unfolding, law enforcement officials are asking for the public’s help in providing any information related to the vehicle in question. Detective Johnston emphasized the importance of reaching out to anyone who may have seen the vehicle or interacted with its occupants on the morning of Sunday, April 13. In conjunction with the ongoing inquiry, authorities are conducting searches at a property in the coastal community of Te Tii.
The next steps in the investigation involve post-mortem examinations and formal identification procedures to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the tragic incident. Police urge anyone with relevant details to contact 105 and assist in shedding light on the events leading up to the crime in Kawakawa, Northland.