KEY POINTS:
Four men have been charged with murder and aggravated robbery after what police call a botched Upper Hutt drug heist gone wrong.
Steven Michael Stone, a 21-year-old Upper Hutt assistant storeman, was stabbed twice and died in the attack about 12.20am yesterday at his home in McParland St, Upper Hutt.
Ambulance staff were already at the scene by the time police arrived but were unable to resuscitate Mr Stone.
Four men, one aged 31, one 29 and two aged 19, appeared in Upper Hutt District Court today jointly charged with murdering Mr Stone and robbing him of cannabis.
All four were given interim name suppression and remanded without plea in custody until May 1.
Upper Hutt acting area commander Inspector Mike Hill told reporters the men had been arrested in the suburb of Trentham following strong co-operation from the public.
"Police believe that the offenders were after drugs at the McParland St property where the victim lived but that the robbery went terribly wrong."
A small amount of cannabis was stolen in the "botched" robbery and Mr Hill said it was not a random attack but a robbery at a house where drugs were present.
"Initial indications are that whatever drug activity was taking place at that address was small scale.
"At this stage there is no indication that the victim was a principal offender running a tinny house."
Mr Hill said the incident showed the dangers of dealing with drugs.
Before the attack yesterday, a woman was at the house with Mr Stone and one of the men now charged with his murder.
Mr Hill said the woman, who also lived at the house, was not involved in any way with the killing but police had not made any decision on any other charges she might face, such as for drugs.
He would only say the other man at the house was involved with the robbery.
The 29-year-old man, arrested today, was believed to be the getaway driver.
Mr Hill told NZPA when police found him, the man had the four-door Nissan Bluebird believed to have been used in the alleged robbers' escape.
"To have three offenders back at the police station within seven hours is pretty good. To have all four within 24 hours is outstanding," he said, adding police were not looking for anyone else.
The alleged murder weapon, believed to be a knife or similar, has not yet been found .
"We are interested in any items that may have been discarded by the offenders, such as items of clothing or even the weapon," Mr Hill said.
A team of 25 detectives and uniformed police would continue to work on the investigation for at least another three days.
Mr Hill said police were considering the possibility the men had previously bought drugs from Mr Stone.
A post mortem examination has yet to establish the cause of death.
- NZPA
