Murder accused and victim knew each other - police

An Auckland man charged with murder after the discovery of a dead body and an axe will have a psychiatric assessment before facing court again this month.

The 28-year-old appeared in the Auckland District Court yesterday morning charged with the murder of a 55-year-old man, and was remanded in custody until April 30.

The judge granted him name suppression and ordered him to undergo a psychiatric assessment.

The accused man stood in the dock in a white police boiler suit and had what appeared to be a large bruise under his right eye.

The Herald understands the dead man was the partner of the accused's mother.

Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Cramer of the Auckland city CIB confirmed the accused and dead man were known to each other.

Mr Cramer said police were not seeking anyone else in relation to the incident that occurred on Aveline Place in Glenn Innes on Wednesday night.

He said police were called to the house about 7.30pm and discovered the body when they arrived.

Forensic specialists were conducting an extensive scene examination and had found several items of interest, including an axe.

Neighbours have told the Herald the dead man was a solo father of a school-age child, and had lived at the address for three to four years with his female partner.

A neighbour said she was shocked by the news. She said the street had been cordoned off by police officers and she heard the Eagle helicopter hovering overhead about 8pm on Wednesday.

Another neighbour said most people in the area kept to themselves and she did not know the people involved.