Crime scene on Rimu road. Photo / Stuart Munro
Five people have appeared in court over the death of a Whanganui man who was assaulted yesterday afternoon.
Craig Campbell Rippon, 57, died in Whanganui Hospital last night after the assault on Rimu St.
Three people appeared in Whanganui District Court today charged with murder. Two people have also appeared in Youth Court in relation to the matter.
All five, who have name suppression, are due to appear again on November 30.
Another man has been charged but is yet to appear.
Police said in a statement this afternoon that Mr Rippon's family had requested privacy.
The investigation into Mr Rippon's death was ongoing and police were unable to comment further at this stage, the statement said.
Neighbours have described seeing a man being beaten in the deadly assault.
A neighbour across the road from where the man was assaulted said she saw a man armed with a crowbar enter the house around 4.30pm.
"A whole carload of them pulled up outside my neighbour's drive and ran across the road. One guy smashed the front door with a crowbar and it was all on after that."
A number of children had been at the property when the assault happened, the woman said.
"I don't think they could have avoided seeing it."
The woman said she saw a fight at the property earlier in the day.
Another nearby resident rang emergency services when she heard the incident.
"I was here having a cigarette and started hearing the yelling," she said.
When she came out onto the footpath she saw a man kicking another man in the head.
"He lost the plot big time," she said. "He just kept yelling, 'I'm going to f***ing kill you'. He was determined he was going to kill him."
There were about three or four others around and a lot of swearing. The victim was eventually dragged up a driveway.
The neighbour said one person appeared to be holding holding another back.
"He wasn't kicking him, he was booting him. There's no way you can survive something like that."
Police said the assault was between people known to each other and they weren't looking for anyone else.
Meanwhile, Whanganui police are investigating an incident in Castlecliff which may be connected to the assault on Rimu St.
The Fire Service confirmed crews attended a separate incident in Manuka St at 6.30pm on night, but could not make any further comment.
The property in Manuka St is cordoned off and is being guarded by security personnel.
Neighbours said they saw the fire trucks but the incident did not appear to be significant.
Two neighbours told the Wanganui Chronicle they heard shouting and yelling in the street outside the house later in the evening.
"There was just a bit of yelling but it didn't last very long," one woman said.
Another woman said she was upset to hear the incident in Manuka St might be connected to the homicide.
But she said she wasn't concerned for her safety or her neighbours.
"Whatever happened, it must have been a personal thing," she said.
The man was taken to hospital with two stab wounds.