By PATRICK GOWER
A central figure in an Auckland street fight in which a young Asian was killed fled to China before police could speak to him.
The victim, 22-year-old Jun Chen, was hit by a car during the brawl involving up to 40 people in November.
Inquiry head Detective Senior Sergeant Julian Rinckes said a man in his twenties who drove from the scene left for China days later.
The indications were that he would not be back. New Zealand did not have an extradition treaty with China.
The car he is believed to have been driving was one of several later seized for forensic testing.
Police say they have "a good idea" what provoked the fight, but will not say what it was.
They will not say if they think Mr Chen's death was a murder.
Auckland death witness out of reach in China
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