Bernice Marychurch died at the scene of the incident on Church St on Wednesday.
The man charged with her murder had his first appearance at the Auckland District Court on Friday after he turned himself in at the North Shore Police Station a day after the incident occurred.
Police initially said they believed the offender and victim were not known to one another. However, that changed after police reviewed security camera footage from earlier in the day which showed the two together.
Bernice Marychurch was stabbed to death on a bus in Onehunga, Auckland last Wednesday.
“Police ... now believe she [the victim] may have known the man charged with her murder,” Acting Detective Inspector Alisse Robertson said.
“Police continue to establish the victim’s movements.”
Police are now appealing for information from the public about her movements and any sightings of her with a man fitting the following description: Wearing a baseball cap with “Niue” written across the front, a zip-up camouflage-coloured hooded sweatshirt, light-coloured pants and white shoes, and a black backpack.
“The victim was wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt, light-coloured shorts, black shoes and carrying a black satchel,” Robertson said.
Bernice Marychurch died after a stabbing on a bus on Church St, Onegunga, Auckland on Wednesday. Photo / Hayden Woodward
“Information can be provided to police by making an online report at 105.police.govt.nz using “Update Report” or by calling 105. Please use reference number 241023/8926,” she said.
Police have seen security camera footage showing the two together in Panmure and Onehunga from throughout Wednesday.
Kael Austin Leona, 37, was the subject of a massive manhunt and a police public appeal after the fatal stabbing.
‘Beautiful mum did not deserve this’
A Givealittle page was set up to support Marychurch’s son, Kit, and the rest of the family.
“Tragically, the reason for this Givealittle page is that Kit’s mum was ... stabbed and killed on a bus this week... This senseless act of violence has of course devastated Kit and his wider family,” the page said.
“Kit now needs our help and support, so ... we thought that maybe we could reach out on his behalf to try to ease some of the financial burden that he and his family will bear over the coming weeks.”
A man wanted by police for Marychurch's killing handed himself in at a police station a day after the incident and appeared in court on Friday. Photo / Hayden Woodward
On social media, members of the Marychurch family said their “beautiful” mum “did not deserve this”.
A woman who was on the bus told the Herald fellow passengers tried to help the victim.
“Every chance possible, I held her hand, because I wanted her to know she was not alone.
“Let it be known ... No one dies alone in New Zealand.”
