Two remanded in custody after stabbing incidents

Vance Parakai Tuheke. Picture / Glenn Jeffrey

Two men have appeared in court following separate stabbings, one of which claimed the life of a Manurewa teenager during the weekend.

Jio-Pene Sauaki appeared in the Manukau District Court yesterday charged with the murder of 18-year-old Kelly Lawrence.

Mr Lawrence died from a single stab wound to the chest while with friends in Mahia Rd late on Saturday night.

Many of his friends had come from a party in a nearby road which Mr Lawrence had not attended.

Police say 19-year-old Sauaki stabbed Mr Lawrence in the chest before running off down the road.

He was followed by a group of young people into a nearby house and taken into custody when police arrived.

Sauaki has been remanded in custody until the end of next month for a pre-depositions hearing.

Vance Parakai Tuheke, of Glenfield, has appeared in the North Shore District Court charged with the attempted murder of Esley James on Friday.

Mr James was rushed to hospital with a 15cm long, 3cm-wide blade embedded in his face after being stabbed while visiting Tuheke's former partner at her Albany home in the early hours of the morning.

Tuheke allegedly left the house, followed by his 22-year-old former partner and their 2-year-old son while Mr James was rushed to hospital.

Surgeons successfully removed the blade almost 14 hours later but Mr James was left with a 3cm wide scar on the side of his face. He remains in hospital in a stable condition.

Tuheke, who was arrested in Ruawai on Saturday, was remanded in custody until later this month.

Two women, aged 22 and 41, have also been arrested and face charges relating to events after the alleged stabbing.