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Police have launched a homicide inquiry after a man was apparently stabbed to death in Upper Hutt this morning.
About 11am, three people were at a McParland St house when two men burst through the door. During a brief struggle, the 21-year-old was stabbed. He died at the scene.
Upper Hutt police Inspector Mike Hill said a full post-mortem examination had yet to take place, though the victim's body bears two stab wounds.
Officers were talking to the other two people present during the stabbing and examining the house.
They had yet to find the weapon used in the attack, and the man would not be named until next of kin have been informed of his death, Mr Hill said.
Police were appealing for anyone who may have seen people behaving suspiciously, heard fighting, or seen anyone running or driving away from the house.
Mr Hill said police forensics staff were beginning their "more detailed examination" of the crime scene.
The body of the 21-year-old man was still at the McParland Street flat, on the second floor of a two-storied building.
"I can't say how long the forensics team will be there. It depends on what they find at the scene," Mr Hill said.
He would not say whether the attackers were known to the other two people present in the flat when the attack took place.
"We are still working to identify what links there were, if any, between the attackers and the victim," he said.
Police were also beginning door-to-door inquiries, interviewing neighbours to find out if anyone heard or saw anything.
He appealed for anyone who may have seen a car driving quickly down State Highway 2, which is near the flat.
"There are two people who have left the area, in a hurry no doubt," he said.
- NZPA
