Two remanded in custody over body in car

Two men were remanded in custody after yesterday appearing in Hamilton District Court charged with murdering Hamilton man Piki Kingi.

The Hamilton men, aged 20 and 41, did not enter pleas.

The armed offenders squad stormed the 41-year-old's Thames St, Claudelands, home on Tuesday afternoon and charged him with murder.

The younger man was arrested by police while spotted leaving an inner city hotel where he had stayed the night before.

A man, 48, and woman, 45, were on Tuesday remanded without plea when they appeared in Hamilton District Court also charged with murder.

All four have name suppression and will reappear in court on July 6.

Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Page said yesterday that an autopsy had concluded Mr Kingi died as a result of multiple head injuries.

"His body has been returned to his family," said Mr Page.

"While charges have been laid there remains a considerable amount of work to be done by the 30-strong inquiry team.

Police believe Mr Kingi's body lay in a car for several days less than a kilometre from where his murder took place.

He was found dead by police in the back seat of a 1992 Mazda MS liftback in Hillcrest on Sunday night after a man recognised the car from earlier media reports.

His body was discovered under blankets, duvets and clothing and was believed to have been in the vehicle on the quiet Hillcrest street since last Wednesday.

Mr Page on Tuesday said Mr Kingi knew the 48-year-old man and the 45-year-old woman who were first charged with his murder.

Mr Page believed Mr Kingi was killed at the couple's Cobham Drive house where the police investigation had focused intensively over the past few days.

About 30 police and forensic experts had combed the property since Friday looking for clues.

"Our investigations into the Cobham Drive incident have been able to confirm the link between Mr Kingi's death and the address and we believe this is the place where he was murdered."

Asked if Mr Kingi's death was drug or gang-related, Mr Page said there was "an element" of drugs involved with his death.

"With most drugs there is a gang involvement and at this stage it doesn't feature at all, but certainly drugs and gangs go together," he said.

Police are urging any witnesses who saw Mr Kingi's car last Wednesday to contact them.

His car was last seen on security camera footage at a Caltex service station in Hillcrest about 11am.

Mr Page said Mr Kingi's family were "understandably distraught".

Mr Kingi is a close relative of rugby league legend Tawera Nikau.

It is understood a tangi for Mr Kingi will be held in Huntly this week.

- With NZPA