KEY POINTS:
Three people accused of a vicious assault in a Wairarapa park last week will face fresh charges in court today after their alleged victim died in hospital.
Paul Richard Bernard Irons, 36, of Featherston, was being treated in Wellington Hospital's intensive care unit for serious head and chest injuries he suffered in the attack last Thursday in a park at the southern end of the Wairarapa township.
Despite initial optimism from family and medical staff that his situation would improve, life support was turned off at 7pm yesterday.
Up to 30 police and specialist staff worked on the inquiry during the first few days and a team of 10 remain to investigate what is now a homicide inquiry.
Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Borrell, the officer in charge of the investigation, said the three people, aged 15, 17 and 25, who appeared in court on Saturday in connection with the attack were due to reappear on upgraded charges today.
"We will await the outcome of the post mortem and seek advice from the Crown Solicitor before deciding exactly what further serious charges will be laid," Mr Borrell said.
Mr Irons was found by a bus driver lying near bushes in the park at 7am on Thursday. He was last seen leaving a house in the town between 1am and 1.30am.
Police are keen to get public help to piece together what happened to him after that.
- NZPA
