Homicide charge over Queenstown death

A man arrested a Queenstown street death last week will face a manslaughter charge when he reappears in court tomorrow.

Mark Smith was found unconscious at a taxi stand in Camp St about 11.30pm on Thursday night and could not be revived.

A 34-year-old man was arrested and initially charged with assault.

He has interim name suppression until he appears in Invercargill District Court again tomorrow to face the upgraded charge.

Inquiry head Detective Senior Sergeant Colin Blackie said "a large proportion" of the initial investigation had been completed and the number of staff working on it would now be reduced from 25.

He thanked the public who had provided information to police "allowed investigators to make rapid progress".

- NZPA