Man charged with assault after nightclub death

The man had head injuries and was believed to have been in a fight earlier in the night. Photo / NZPA

Homicide police investigating the death of a man near a south Auckland nightclub early today have arrested a 33-year-old local man.

The man was arrested several hours after the body of a man was found in a carpark at the Otara Shopping Centre in south Auckland.

The man was charged with assault and further charges might follow, said Detective Senior Sergeant Pete Jones, the homicide inquiry leader.

The man was expected to stay in police custody until he appeared in the Manukau District Court tomorrow.

He said that the identity of the dead man, described as a Polynesian in his late 20s or early 30s, was still not known and he appealed to anyone with information to come forward.

"It is likely this person will be missed, He won't have returned home this morning like he should have and we are hoping the public will be able to assist us in identifying him."

The body was removed from the car park late this morning.

- NZPA