Auckland taxi driver's alleged killer caught

Hiren Mohini with his wife Falguni, left, mother Vasantiben and daughters Yashvi (5) and Hetvi (3 ). Photo / Supplied

The man alleged to have brutally stabbed Auckland taxi driver Hiren Mohini has been caught by Chinese authorities.

The 23 year-old is now in custody in China where he was arrested last Thursday.

Detective Senior Sergeant Hywel Jones headed up the murder investigation and is now in China helping Chinese authorities with "evidential matters".

The accused man has been granted interim name suppression.

Mr Jones had already made the trip once before but returned empty handed.

However, in a statement issued today, police said Mr Jones travelled to Shanghai late on Friday.

Police have advised Mr Mohini's family of the weekend's developments today.

Auckland City CIB head, Detective Inspector Bruce Shadbolt, said police are very grateful to the Chinese authorities for their support and co-operation for locating the wanted man.

"Discussions are underway between our officers in China and Chinese authorities regarding the next steps in the investigation," he said.

Mr Mohini, a 39-year-old father of two, was stabbed after taking a fare from downtown Auckland to suburban Mt Eden on January 31.

Officers recovered a knife in the days following the killing, which Mr Jones described as a "vicious" and "frenzied" attack, and canvassed hospitals for people with fitting injuries.

Police released CCTV pictures of the man that they believed was connected to the stabbing.

He was later finally identified but by then he had fled New Zealand.

A fortnight after he left New Zealand, police searched his apartment in Auckland for clues and on February 26 a warrant was issued in the Auckland District Court for his arrest.



Since then a nation-wide appeal by the Taxi Federation has raised more than $100,000 for the Mohini family.

The case so far

January 31: Taxi driver Hiren Mohini stabbed to death in Mt Eden.

Days following: Suspect tells flatmates leg injured playing basketball.

February 4: Suspect moves out of apartment.

February 5: Suspect flies to China.

February 19: Police visit apartment and conduct forensic testing.

February 26: A warrant is issued in the Auckland District Court for his arrest.

February 27: Police confirm they know identity of chief suspect.

April 7: nzherald.co.nz reports that police have returned from China without the suspect.

April 14: Appeal for the Mohini family reaches over $100,000.

June 10: Suspect caught by Chinese authorities

- NZ Herald staff