Son charged with father's murder

Tauranga Police have now charged 45-year-old Murray Tait with the murder of his 76-year-old father in Tauranga last week.

The victim, David Tait, sustained serious serious head injuries in an attack in his Tauranga home and was found by police last Tuesday. He died the next day in Tauranga Hospital.

Murray Tait initially appeared in Tauranga District Court last Wednesday on an assault charge. He was formally charged with murder today, and will appear in Tauranga District Court tomorrow.

The officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Senior Sergeant Lindsay Pilbrow, said police were still eager to talk to anyone who may have seen Murray Tait or his dark blue Subaru Legacy station wagon last Tuesday.

"In particular, we are urgently seeking any information that may help us find the clothes that Murray Tait was wearing on Tuesday 22 June," said Detective Senior Sergeant Pilbrow. "We believe these clothes may have been disposed of or discarded somewhere in the Papamoa Beach area."

The clothes are described as a dark-coloured, sleeveless fleece vest, a pair of grey shorts and a pair of old-style, dark grey or black rubber jandals.

Police also want to speak to anyone who saw Murray Tait's car on Papamoa Beach Road or in a reserve or a car parking area in Papamoa between 10:15am and 2:30pm on Tuesday 22 June.

The car is a dark blue Subaru Legacy station wagon. The licence plate is BTT823.

- NZ Herald staff