KEY POINTS:
A third male has been arrested in connection with the murder of 14-year-old John Hapeta, bashed to death by masked men at his parents' home on August 12.
Two unemployed men, aged 21 and 23, were yesterday arrested and will appear in Manukau District Court today facing charges of murder, assault with intent to rob and possessing a pistol for the commission of a crime.
Today investigation head Detective Inspector John Tims said a 15-year-old boy had also been arrested.
He had been charged with being a party to assault with intent to rob and would appear in Manukau Youth Court today.
Family members have told how John, his mother and two of his friends were at home in Justamere Place, Weymouth, when two masked men burst in through the back door. The friends were celebrating a birthday.
John's mother ordered the gatecrashers to leave, but they later returned and attacked John outside.
The mother of a boy who saw the bashing said one of the attackers was carrying a hammer and the other a gun. John died that night of bluntforce trauma to the back of his head.
Police have not ruled out laying further charges over the killing.
Detective Inspector John Tims said staff had found "a number of items of interest" when they executed search warrants at two addresses in South Auckland yesterday morning.
Mr Tims repeated earlier assurances that the killing was not random.
"They [the attackers] went there for a reason and a purpose."
He said the police had received "very good" help from people using the 0800 and free text numbers set up to get information about the killing. Yesterday's arrests were a "direct result" of help from the public and the media.
However, other people had information and needed to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to text 3161 or ring 0800 JUSTAMERE (0800-587-826).
