Police name man who died after suspected overdose

Police have named the Nelson jeweller who died of a suspected drug overdose yesterday.

He was 37-year-old Michael Norman O'Neill.

Police were called to the emergency department of Nelson Hospital about 6am yesterday. Mr O'Neill had been there in a private car and was dead in the back seat, Detective Sergeant Kevin Tiernan of Nelson CIB said.

The self-employed jeweller had recently moved to Nelson from Auckland, Mr Tiernan said.

A police spokesman said this morning the man had died from a suspected drug overdose and a post mortem would be carried out either this afternoon or tomorrow.

A 29-year-old man had been charged with supplying a Class B controlled drug methadone to Mr O'Neill.

He appeared in Nelson District Court today and was remanded in custody until October 29.

Police have tracked down Mr O'Neill's family in Britain and advised them of the death.

- NZPA