Teenagers in court after fatal beating of man

Gheorghe Simion

Three teenagers arrested after the fatal beating of a Romanian man in South Auckland on Sunday have made their first court appearance on the day an action plan for South Auckland youth was launched.

Two men aged 19 and another aged 17 appeared in Manukau District Court yesterday charged with assaulting Gheorge Simion in Mangere about 6.45am on Sunday.

The men, who all have interim name suppression, entered no plea. They were remanded in custody and would reappear in Manukau District Court on September 26.

Police said it was expected that murder or manslaughter charges would be laid. Mr Simion, 36, a New Zealand resident who lived in Mangere, was beaten outside a Foodtown supermarket. He died in Middlemore Hospital on Monday.

The investigation was the seventh homicide case in South Auckland in three months, most of which involved young people, prompting questions about the problem. Some are addressed in a 26-point action plan covering youth action teams, facilities for at-risk youth after hours, and improved police facilities, case management and parenting information.

Social Development Minister David Benson-Pope said: "Young people need to be connected to schools, training and jobs."

- NZPA