Accused and victim fought, says lawyer

A 25-year-old man and the father of four he is accused of murdering got into a fight after both had been drinking, the defendant's lawyer said yesterday.

Olo Fiti, 37, was repeatedly stabbed with a knife outside a house in Preston Rd in the South Auckland suburb of Otara on Friday night.

In Manukau District Court yesterday the accused man, who has interim name suppression, was remanded in custody until May 13.

He was arrested at Auckland International Airport as he was about to board a flight to Samoa, 24 hours after the slaying.

Joe Pisa, a close friend of Mr Fiti, shouted obscenities at the defendant from the public gallery.

"Olo was like a brother to me. He was a really close friend and we grew up in the same town," he said later.

"His family are devastated, that's why I got so angry when I saw this guy in court today."

Outside court, defence lawyer Panama Le'au'anae said he requested interim name suppression for 24 hours so a close relative of the accused could be told of the charges.

"My client and the deceased had both been drinking. There was some confrontation and some fighting, but it's too early to say to what extent."

Mr Le'au'anae said he thought there was some acquaintance between his client and Mr Fiti.

- NZPA