Kawakawa, New Zealand – Authorities have charged a man with murder following the discovery of a body in a car near a Northland service station on Sunday morning. What initially appeared to be an unexplained death has now been determined to be the result of a violent assault, according to Detective Inspector Rhys Johnston.
The incident unfolded at Station Rd in Kawakawa, where police responded to a report and found the deceased man inside a vehicle near the Caltex petrol station. A 49-year-old man found in close proximity has been arrested and is scheduled to appear in the Kaikohe District Court today, authorities confirmed.
In an effort to gather more information, officials have released a photo of a black Ford Falcon with the registration number BYM765, which was present at the scene of the crime and has since been taken into custody. Law enforcement is urging individuals who may have interacted with the vehicle or its occupants on the morning of April 13 to come forward and assist with the investigation by contacting 105.
Detective Johnston also mentioned that a property in the seaside settlement of Te Tii is currently under scrutiny in connection to the case. However, further procedures such as post-mortem examinations and formal identification processes are still pending, shedding more light on the tragic event that has left the community in shock and seeking justice for the victim.