Man killed in half-way house was on bail

A 37-year-old man killed in a Wellington halfway house on Tuesday had been bailed there by police the day before he was killed.

Police were called to the Mansfield St house in Newtown, which accommodates people suffering mental illness or involved in drug rehabilitation, at 5.50am on Tuesday after the man died, apparently following an assault.

The dead man had been arrested on Sunday afternoon after failing to complete a community sentence in February, the Dominion Post reported.

He was sent to the halfway house as part of his bail conditions when he appeared in court on Monday.

A 43-year-old man charged with assault over the incident appeared in Wellington District Court on Tuesday, where he was remanded in custody to appear again on Friday.

Police said further charges were likely.

- NZPA