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A 31-year-old man is likely to be charged with murder or manslaughter after the death of his apartment-mate in downtown Auckland overnight.
The man was charged after the death of a 30-year-old man in what police described as a domestic dispute in their apartment at The Quadrant apartment block in Waterloo Quadrant.
Police and ambulance were called to the scene about 7.15am and upon arrival found the deceased man.
"There were two other people in the apartment. They have come back to Auckland Central Police Station and have been speaking with us," Detective Senior Sergeant Gerry Whitley said.
"Subsequently one of those people, a 31-year-old male, has been charged with assault. That is a holding charge.
"There will be a post-mortem examination hopefully tomorrow and at the conclusion of that, the man charged and arrested at the moment will be facing serious charges.
"I would imagine the serious charge will be a homicide-related charge, as in murder or manslaughter."
Mr Whitley said ambulance staff assessed the welfare of both remaining people at the scene before releasing them. They then went to the Auckland Central Police Station, where they had been co-operating with police.
The arrested man would make a court appearance tomorrow, possibly at Auckland District Court, though that had yet to be confirmed.
Mr Whitley said the deceased and the other two people at the apartment all lived there and the homicide was the result of a domestic dispute which involved only the people that lived in that apartment.
"I want to reassure the public that we're not looking for anybody else and that there's no danger to the public. We have spoken to and arrested the person that we believe is involved in this homicide."
Mr Whitley said the incident appeared to happen overnight, though police were still trying to establish exactly when it occurred.
He would not say what gender the third person in the apartment was, nor what nationality any of the trio was.
He said police did not believe the deceased had any next of kin.
Mr Whitley said there was no indication as yet that organised crime, drugs or alcohol were factors.
Police expected the deceased man's body would be removed from the apartment either late today or tomorrow. Scene examiners were expected to remain at the apartment for about two days.
Mr Whitley thanked fellow hotel guests and apartment dwellers at The Quadrant, next to the Hyatt Hotel, for their co-operation and understanding.
- NZPA
