Man lay dead for fortnight

Rod Nicholls kept to himself. Photo / Chris Skelton

An elderly man lay dead in his home for two weeks before his body was found on Christmas Eve.

Police were called to Rod Nicholls' home in Titirangi, west Auckland, by a concerned neighbour. They found Nicholls in his bed.

Senior Sergeant Tony Miller would not comment on the case, other than to confirm police attended. The death has been referred to the coroner.

A source said it was possible Nicholls' electric blanket had been on. Cash was found in the house.

The elderly, white-bearded man, who listed himself as an artist on the electoral roll, lived alone in a blue-painted wooden house, the paint peeling and weeds growing in the spouting.

Inside, Nicholls had an eclectic collection of "treasures". Skulls, statues and figurines are visible from his front door alongside piles of books, papers and model planes.

Nicholls' family refused to speak about his death, saying he was a private person and wanted to be left alone.

The neighbour who called police said he was saddened by Nicholls' death.

Mohommed, who did not want his last name published, owns a shop near Nicholls' home and saw him about twice a week over the past seven years.

"His only contact was with me. He had family but he just liked to be alone," he said. "I hadn't seen him for a couple of weeks and I thought something must be wrong. I went and knocked on the door and left him a note for him to come and see me," he said. "I rang the police the next day and (later that day) I heard he had died. I had bought a Christmas cake for him and I almost cried because I will never get to give it to him."

Mohommed said a relative came to see him several months ago to ask if Nicholls was alright. She left her number and asked him to get in touch if anything happened to him.

"He always asked about my children. Once a week he would taxi to New Lynn to do his banking. I would ask if he needed any help and he always said no. Some of the locals went to his house and asked if he needed anything and his answer was always no."

anna.leask@hos.co.nz