Dargaville man dies, homicide investigation launched

File photo / NZ Herald

A 61-year-old Northland man has died from serious head injuries sustained on Wednesday night.

Christopher Edwards was left fighting for his life in Auckland Hospital with an unexplained life threatening head injury after he was found unconscious in his Te Kopuru home on West Coast Rd, on Wednesday night.

He passed away at 4am this morning.

A 42-year-old man is to appear in the Dargaville District Court today, charged with assault.

Detective Inspector Malthus, Northland Police crime manager, said a homicide investigation has been launched. Police are now speaking to the occupants of Mr Edwards' home to ascertain what occurred in the days leading to his death.
Mr Edwards' next of kin have been informed of his death.

A post mortem is scheduled for later today.

Detective Inspector Malthus said an ambulance was called to the home, about 13km southeast of Dargaville about 7.30pm.

Mr Edwards was unable to be woken by others at the house and was taken to Dargaville Hospital.

From Dargaville he was flown to Whangarei Hospital by the Northland Electricity rescue helicopter then flown in a critical condition to Auckland Hospital.

Mr Edwards underwent surgery to relieve pressure on his brain, and a CAT scan revealed a skull fracture.

His life support machine was switched off yesterday afternoon after there was nothing doctors could do to save him.

St John paramedics worked on the man in the helicopter before he was flown to Auckland about 10.30pm, St John intensive care paramedic Mark Going said.

Police could not speak to the man due to his condition and Ms Malthus said police were unsure at this stage exactly how he got the injuries.

"There are a number of people in the house who are helping us with our inquiries as we try to establish how he got the head injuries."

This morning the house, a small, untidy, blue fibrolite building, was cordoned off and a police officer was on scene duty while investigations continued.

- Northern Advocate, Herald Online