Neighbour tells of moans as man dies

Police cordon off a block of flats in Wha St, Hamilton, where a man died violently on Monday. Photo / Christine Cornege

A neighbour of a man allegedly murdered outside his Hamilton home has described hearing Jason Stewart Kerr dying - a sound she says she will never forget.

The woman, who did not want to be identified, said the Waitangi Day killing of the 38-year-old father had unnerved her.

"I didn't see anything, but I think I might have heard him actually dying. It is a noise I won't forget. It was a horrible, hoarse moan. And then shortly after that the cops arrived."

The woman's home was near a block of eight flats in Wha St, Frankton, where Mr Kerr was found lying in a pool of blood about 4.45pm on Monday. The Herald understands he was stabbed and struck with a heavy object.

Neighbours said there was a steady stream of tenants regularly renting and vacating the flats, but Mr Kerr had been there about six months and was always friendly.

He had a girlfriend, while a 12-year-old daughter from another relationship lived with Mr Kerr's mother two doors down the street.

One neighbour said she came home from a long weekend holiday and said she heard a woman screaming as ambulance staff arrived and police cordoned off the scene.

Mr Kerr's family were allowed to carry out a blessing of the site overnight on Monday.

Detective Sergeant Daryl Smith said the victim's body was removed yesterday and a post-mortem examination would be carried out to establish the cause of death.

He said though police were in contact with the Mr Kerr's family, they were yet to formally identify him because he used several aliases.

He said emergency services were called to the flats following reports of a man being assaulted.

"They arrived to find a 38-year-old man lying critically injured on an upstairs walkway of the two-storey accommodation block."

He died at the scene.

Police could not comment on the injuries. Mr Smith said the priority for the inquiry team was to speak to witnesses and complete a scene examination. They were being assisted by Auckland forensic experts.

Six occupants of the block of flats have been moved to alternative accommodation while the examination is carried out.

Neighbours said police were regularly called to the flats for parties and violent behaviour.

One had even moved bedrooms within her home to get away from the constant noise.

"It's a nightmare. It's bloody near every night.

"The young guys start up their music at 4pm and go through until 6am sometimes."

Yesterday 28-year-old Andron Max McDonald, a downstairs resident of the Wha St flats, was arrested and charged with murder.

The painter appeared in the Hamilton District Court on the charge and was remanded in custody until March 20.