Second man wanted in fatal Tokoroa beating

Police are searching for a second man wanted for the fatal beating of a Tokoroa mother of six.

Moana Kapua, aged 29, was found unconscious with severe head injuries at her Arthur St, Tokoroa, home on Saturday morning. She died in Auckland Hospital on Tuesday night.

A man appeared in Papakura District Court yesterday charged with assault and was remanded in custody.

Detective Sergeant Karl Thornton from Tokoroa police said they would like to speak with anybody who saw a Maori or Polynesian man, wearing a yellow hooded top and dark pants in or near Arthur Street, or central Tokoroa.

He was also wearing or carrying a black jacket.

Mr Thornton said the man was 1.8m tall, of solid build.

Ms Kapua was last alive by a taxi driver who took her home from the Trees Tavern in Tokoroa around 3am on Friday morning last week.

Mr Thornton said police were now looking at a homicide charge for the man charged with assault.

"That part of the investigation is still ongoing, and will be decided once the evidence and reports have been collected," he said.

"We still have a number of people from the Trees Tavern and Arthur St to speak to."

- NZPA