Two charged with youth's murder

Two men have been charged with murdering 17-year-old Kaine Lewis in the Bay of Plenty town Murupara earlier this month.

A 17-year-old and an 18-year-old were due to appear in Rotorua District Court later today, acting area commander Inspector Greg Sparrow said.

They had both been previously charged with participating in a criminal group activity.

Mr Sparrow said the investigation was continuing and was still very active.

"Obviously we are pleased that we have been able to reach a point where we can charge two people with murder. We are continuing to speak with a number of other people who may have been involved.

"This was a serious incident which has had a significant impact on the Murupara community."

Mr Lewis was beaten and dumped on a driveway of a Murupara house, where he was found dying on October 3.

He had extensive head injuries but Mr Sparrow would not say whether a weapon was involved.

"There was a vehicle involved but we don't believe it was serious enough to cause those injuries," Mr Sparrow said.

Mr Lewis was the second teenager to die in Murupara gang violence in nine months.

In January Jordan Herewini, 16, was run down by a vehicle allegedly driven by a gang member now facing a murder charge.

- NZPA