Mt Wellington homicide: Head Hunter hands himself in, charged with murder of Texas Doctor

Texas Jack Doctor (inset) and the scene outside the Puffing Kiwi vape shop on Penrose Rd, Mt Wellington where the fatal shooting took place The car with the broken window has been the focus of the investigation.

A man accused of murdering young Rebels MC member Texas Jack Doctor in Mt Wellington on Saturday night has appeared in court.

The 23-year-old Mt Wellington man, who police said is a patched member of the Head Hunters, handed himself in at the College Hill station on Thursday morning.

While the accused and Doctor, 22, were from two different gangs who have feuded in the past, Acting Detective Inspector Chris Allan said police do not believe the incident was the result of gang tensions. Police called for calm in a statement announcing the man’s arrest.

The man accused of killing Doctor appeared before Judge Ajit Swaran Singh in the Auckland District Court on Thursday afternoon, charged with murder and unlawful possession of a pistol.

His lawyer Annabel Ives sought and was granted interim name suppression until his next appearance in the High Court at Auckland on August 7.

A man appears in the Auckland District Court on Thursday, July 18, charged with the murder of Rebels MZ member Texas Doctor five days earlier. Photo / Sylvie Whinray

Ives said her client was only arrested today after he presented at the police station and there were still older members of his family who had yet to be informed.

He did not seek bail and was remanded in custody by consent by Judge Swaran Singh until his next appearance.

Yesterday in the same court a man appeared and was also granted interim name suppression on a charge of being an accessory to Texas’ murder after the fact.

Court documents state police allege he gave a ride to the man who allegedly killed Doctor, 22. His case was also transferred to the High Court at Auckland, where he is set to appear on the same date as the man charged with murder.

Neither man entered a plea.

The 26-year-old accused of being an accessory to Texas Doctor's murder did not enter a plea as his case was transferred by Judge Kevin Glubb from the Auckland District Court to the High Court. Photo / Dean Purcell

Earlier, Acting Detective Inspector Chris Allan said police were calling for calm.

“While both the offender and the victim are members of separate gangs, we want to assure the public that what has transpired related to an ongoing dispute between individual members of two families.

“Our inquiries have established this was not a gang-motivated incident.”

Allan said police would like to acknowledge the public for their assistance in the investigation.

“We would like to thank every person who called us or came into a station to provide information in relation to this homicide.

“I’d also like to thank our team, who have worked around the clock to identify and locate the persons responsible and hold them to account.”