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Patrons at a rural Hawkes Bay pub will be spoken to today as police continue a homicide investigation after a man was found dead with stab wounds on Saturday.
Police said local man 34-year-old Mark Allen McCutcheon was found dead about 7am in a black Ford ute which had left the road near the intersection of State Highway 50 and Wakarara Rd near Ongaonga, 70km southwest of Napier.
A post mortem was carried out yesterday, revealing Mr McCutcheon had been fatally stabbed.
Detective Senior Sergeant David de Lange, of Hastings, said Mr McCutcheon had been involved in a fight outside the Sandford Arms Tavern in Ongaonga on Friday night.
Eastern districts police communications manager Kris McGehan said patrons and witnesses were interviewed at the weekend and police were looking to track down more patrons today.
She said police were yet to confirm how Mr McCutcheon managed to get to the area where he was found, which is a few kilometres from the tavern.
A scene examination had been carried out at the hotel and where Mr McCutcheon was found.
- NZPA
