Neighbour tells of argument in death flat

A 39-year-old woman has been charged with assault after the death of a man in the Upper Hutt suburb of Trentham.

Police launched a homicide investigation after the man's body was found in a Merton St, Trentham, flat just before 8pm on Saturday.

It is the same complex where 7-month-old Kathleen Harris lived with her 20-year-old mother, Tracee Leigh Ann Harris, who last week pleaded guilty to the baby's manslaughter.

Harris' partner, Blair Williams, also lived there and has pleaded not guilty to the girl's murder.

A detailed forensic examination of the flat was carried out yesterday before the man's body could be taken away for an autopsy.

Detective Senior Sergeant Soni Malaulau said a woman who lived at the flat had been charged with assault. Further charges might follow.

She was expected to appear in the Upper Hutt District Court today.

Mongrel Mob member Kara Torea, who lived next door, said the couple had moved in only earlier in the week with their daughter, who was aged about 5.

"They had only been there four or five days and the very first night they had an argument.

"She [the woman] came over and said she was a bit scared. That was on Monday night."

He said they did not see or hear anything on Saturday night until the police pulled up.

"As the police took her away she was screaming as though she was in shock," said Mr Torea.

He understood the man had been stabbed a few times.

Mr Malaulau said the victim's name would not be made public until he was formally identified and next of kin advised.