Murder victim 'an easy target'

The scene of the homicide. Photo / APN

A friend of murder victim Douglas Apperley says his gentle nature made him a target and although he told her he was often picked on, he was always "happy-go-lucky".

Mr Apperley was found dead in his Hastings home on Saturday night. Police said he had been stabbed multiple times in the chest and had "terrible head injuries".

Sharon McCabe got to know Mr Apperley when she worked in a Hastings insurance office and said she broke down when she heard of his death.

"He would just come in and sit at my desk for a chat. We would just talk about everything and anything," she said.

"When I heard it was him on the news I just broke down in tears. I couldn't believe it.

"Douglas was lovely. He was a little bit slow, but that's not to say anything bad about him.

"I think that's why he was an easy target. He used to complain that people picked on him, about people being mean. It makes me sad that they did this to him and what he went through."

Mrs McCabe said Mr Apperley was special.

"He was always happy-go-lucky, always cheerful. I keep thinking 'why has this happened' and my view is that to some people he was easy prey.

"I just can't imagine why someone would do this to him. He wouldn't hurt anybody. Douglas ... loved to talk to people and he loved company."

About 12 police remain at Mr Apperley's home, searching for clues that might lead them to his killer. Detective Senior Sergeant Dave de Lange yesterday appealed for anyone who had information about Mr Apperley's death, or saw anything suspicious in the area to come forward.

Mr Apperley's neighbour and friend Mark Berkhan said he was "jittery" and nervous when told the details of the murder.

He said Mr Apperley was a "huge man" and well known in the street, but could often "mouth off".

"He could be confrontational if he didn't get on with people. Not so long ago I had to step in between him and another neighbour I was talking to. He was always ringing cops complaining about his neighbours.

"But he was a friendly man and he spoke to most people on the street. He was full of gossip - he was like the street's newspaper."

Mr de Lange said Mr Apperley was reasonably well-known in Hastings and was often seen cycling in the city.

He said police were following up from members of the public and urged anyone who saw Mr Apperley in the days before his body was found to come forward.

Mrs McCabe said it was a privilege to call Mr Apperley her friend.

"I feel proud to have known him."

- additional reporting APN staff