Police are seeking help from Auckland's Middle Eastern community following the death of a man whose body was dumped outside Auckland Hospital yesterday.
Bjorn Henderson, a 28-year-old from Hamilton, was left outside the hospital's accident and emergency department about 12.10am yesterday after dying from serious head injuries.
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34-year-old south Auckland man of Iranian birth was charged with assaulting Mr Henderson today but police said others could be charged.
The arrested man was granted interim name suppression when he appeared in Auckland District Court and his lawyer Louise Freyer said police had indicated a charge relating to Mr Henderson's death could be laid.
He was remanded in custody and will reappear next week, when he is likely to seek bail.
"We've been speaking to a number of people in the Middle Eastern community," Mr Mander said.
"If people from the Middle Eastern community want to come forward and share their knowledge with us they can either do that or (go to) the mosques with the intention of passing that to police, or come directly to the inquiry team."
Mr Mander said the arrested man was an acquaintance of the man who drove Mr Henderson to hospital.
He said the driver at this stage was not likely to face charges, but others could be.
"This announcement today that a man has been arrested has by no means completed the investigation."
Mr Mander said it was unclear if Mr Henderson died following a sustained attack or a number of attacks.
Police were carrying out scene examinations at two addresses on Ellerslie-Panmure Highway.
"We are looking for a weapon within the scene," Mr Mander said. "All that we know at this stage is that it's a blunt instrument."
Mr Mander said police also wanted public help on the movements of Mr Henderson, who is of New Zealand origin.
"Bjorn Henderson comes and goes between Auckland and Hamilton so it would be great if we could identify where he was staying in Auckland," he said.
He said police did not want to say what they thought prompted the attack, but they did not think it was race-related.
- NZPA
