Police at the scene of a homicide in Whangarei on Norfolk Street, Regent in Whangārei on Sunday. Photo / Brodie Stone
Police at the scene of a homicide in Whangarei on Norfolk Street, Regent in Whangārei on Sunday. Photo / Brodie Stone
Two men have been charged with murder after two unrelated deaths in Northland at the weekend.
A man was fatally stabbed in Kaikohe on Saturday morning and, also on Saturday, a man was found dead at a Norfolk St address in Whangārei. Police said the homicides were unrelated and both involved people who were known to each other.
A 53-year-old man who was known to the Norfolk St victim was taken into custody and charged with murder on Sunday afternoon, police said.
He was due to appear in Whangārei District Court on Monday.
Police maintained a presence on Norfolk St on Sunday as homicide investigations continued. Neighbouring properties included Emerge Aotearoa and Arataki Ministries.
Residents on Norfolk St in Whangārei told the Northern Advocate they had heard nothing to indicate a person had been killed until emergency services swarmed into their street.
She did not want to comment further on the incident or its impact.
Northland District Criminal Investigations manager Detective Inspector Dene Begbie said police were aware the two homicides may have caused concern in the community.
She said she acknowledged the victims and their families and the “tragic impact” that the events would have.
“I do want to reassure the public that these two incidents are unrelated, and both involved people known to each other, at private addresses."
“There is nothing to suggest any sort of increased or ongoing risk.”
She said homicide investigations were challenging and thanked those involved in responding for their professionalism.
And on January 29, 18-year-old Kyle Jenkins was found dead in a creek at Ōtaika after being shot.
Brodie Stone covers crime and emergency for the Northern Advocate. She has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.