Trial date set for accused security guard killer

crime scene at Selwood Road Henderson at which Charanpreet Dhaliwal died. Photo / Doug Sherring

The man accused of killing security guard Charanpreet Dhaliwal will go to trial to defend the charge of murder.

The 27-year-old - who had his name suppression continued - appeared briefly at the High Court at Auckland today.

His lawyer Lorraine Smith entered not guilty pleas on behalf of her client to charges of murder and assault.

Justice Pamela Andrews set a trial date for September next year. Four weeks have been set aside and the Crown is expected to call 40 witnesses.

The man was arrested in June, following a six-month police investigation.

The man's name was originally available but Justice Geoffrey Venning imposed name suppression on July 13.

Mr Dhaliwal, a 22-year-old security guard was found slumped over a concrete block at a Fulton & Hogan construction site on Selwood Rd in Henderson, west Auckland, at 3.11am on November 18.

An autopsy showed Mr Dhaliwal, who was working his first shift as a guard, died from a blow to the head. He was found near the main gates of the site by workers returning a truck.

At first, police did not believe Mr Dhaliwal was murdered, but did not completely rule out foul play.

A week later, they upgraded the investigation to a homicide.