Teen, 16, charged after officer stabbed at home

Police who went to the block of Papakura flats on Saturday morning found the body of officer Denis Phillips. Photo / NZPA

An off-duty police officer stabbed to death in his own home appears to have known his attacker.

Distraught family and neighbours are baffled by the fatal attack on 59-year-old Denis Norman Phillips in his Papakura home at the weekend, but police yesterday ruled out home invasion as a motive.

A 16-year-old boy who handed himself in to the police has been charged with murder and is to appear in the Papakura Youth Court this morning.

It is believed the temporary constable - sworn in to work in the police cells - was alone in his single-storey unit on Green St when he was attacked.

Detectives were called to the address about 11am on Saturday but did not reveal the dead man was a police employee until yesterday, because his South Island family could not be reached.

Yesterday, Counties-Manukau district commander Superintendent Mike Bush said there was "no evidence whatsoever" of a sexual element to the attack.

He would not comment on whether the accused killer was a relative of Mr Phillips. "But what I can say is that we're not looking at it as a home invasion-type crime," he said.

Mr Phillips' police colleagues held a service in his honour at the Counties-Manukau station last night.

A workmate of Mr Phillips, who also worked as an orderly at Manukau District Court, described him as "one of the boys".

"He was a really good guy, very down to earth and always joking around with us," he said. "He was pretty small so I used to call him 'Big D' as a joke."

Police Association president Greg O'Connor said it did not appear Mr Phillips was targeted because of his job.

"The fact that he works for the police doesn't appear to be of any relevance other than creating another interest," he said.

One of Mr Phillips' cousins, Phillip Gibson, said last night that the family were in the dark as to what had happened and had no idea who would want to do him harm.

He paid tribute to the cousin he last saw at a family 80th birthday party a month ago. Mr Gibson said his cousin, who worked in the military and served overseas before joining the police 12 years ago, surprised everyone by standing up and speaking in Maori.

"He got up and spoke some and gave us all a shock ... but it was nice," Mr Gibson said.

Mr Phillips was known in the neighbourhood for helping those in need, he said.

"You know the young ones and the older people, taking them in and giving them a feed or something."

Family, friends and neighbours - "just beside themselves" - attended a karakia (prayer) gathering at the house yesterday.

Mr Bush said the death was "a tragedy for all those involved".

But he said he was restricted on what he could say further because of the rules on youth offending.

Neighbours were in shock at the slaying of a man who "lived life by his actions and not by making a noise".

John Watson said Mr Phillips had lived in the street for at least 10 years and was a "very good person" who could be counted on.

"Knowing the man and the way he lived his life, he was a good guy. He's not a bad guy, and I hope he hasn't been taken out for the person he is," he said.

Mr Phillips' death came as a big shock in a quiet street "where people look out for each other and their properties".

Mr Watson and another neighbour felt bad they hadn't been able to do anything.

"In some ways we feel guilty that this guy could die alone, taken down by bad guys," he said. "He did his job and he came home ... . Doesn't that make you angry? It certainly makes me angry.

"There's a dead man up the road and we should honour him. We've lost one of our own."

POLICE UNDER ATTACK

Early yesterday:

* Hawkes Bay female constable thrown to the ground and dragged by motorist pulled over for drink-driving. Colleagues come to her aid and are also attacked.

Last month:

* Hawkes Bay constable Alan Daly stomped on and beaten with own police radio after stopping a car.
* Christchurch constables Mitchel Alatalo and Bruce Lamb shot and injured on routine call-out. Police dog Gage shot dead defending them.
* Auckland man brandishes stolen air rifle in caravan outside mother's New Lynn house and is gunned down by armed police.

February:

* Constable John Connolly beaten unconscious while breaking up a fight near his Tuakau home, south of Auckland.