Post-mortem shows Hastings man was stabbed

Douglas Bruce Apperley's body was found at his Townshend Street house in the Hastings suburb of St Leonards on Saturday night. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

A 59-year-old Hastings man died after being stabbed numerous times in the chest, an autopsy has revealed.

Douglas Bruce Apperley's body was found at his Townshend Street house, in the suburb of St Leonards, about 8.15pm on Saturday after a neighbour, concerned he had not been seen for a few days, contacted police.

A post-mortem examination was completed today and preliminary results indicated Mr Apperley died from stab wounds and terrible head injuries in a "vicious attack", Detective Senior Sergeant Dave de Lange said.

Police were continuing to examine Mr Apperley's home and several items of interest had been found, which might have contributed to his death.

Mr de Lange said Mr Apperley was reasonably well-known in Hastings and was often seen biking in the city.

He urged anyone who had seen him in the past week to contact police.

His neighbours earlier said police had been going door-to-door asking questions about Mr Apperley, who lived alone.

"They came and knocked on everyone's doors asking them questions, and finding out if we'd noticed anything going on and when we last saw him. He's a lovely guy," one neighbour said.

Another woman said she was "absolutely devastated" when she found out about the death.

"He was a lovely old man who chatted to everybody and rode his bike up and down the street - he spoke to the kids and waved to everybody. He was totally harmless," she said.

- NZPA