4 Mar 2024

Murder charge laid after stabbing in Mangamuka

5:16 pm on 4 March 2024
A police car

File photo. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi

A man has been charged with murder in relation to a homicide in Mangamuka in the Far North on Sunday night.

Emergency services, including police, were called to a property on Iwitaua Road, Mangamuka at about 9pm after reports of a person being stabbed at the address. The victim, a male, was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 50-year-old man was arrested nearby, and will face a charge of murder.

"We know this will have been a shock to the community, however we would like to reassure people that this appears to be an isolated incident," Northland CIB detective inspector Al Symonds said.

"This is a tragic situation and we are ensuring there is support in place for those closest to the victim."

Later on Monday afternoon, police said they had also arrested a 39-year-old woman, and charged her with possession of an offensive weapon.

Scene guards remained at the scene on Monday afternoon. A post-mortem was due for that afternoon too.

"While an arrest has been made, there are still a number of enquiries yet to be completed," Symonds said.

The man was due to appear in Kaikohe District Court on Monday, and the woman on Tuesday.

Further arrests could not be ruled out, Symonds said.

Police would like to hear from anyone with information about the incident - call 106 or go online and quote file number 240304/6284, or call Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.