A man who died in hospital after he was found with critical head injuries on a footpath in Wellington has been named, with police appealing for more information.
He was 63-year-old Abdul Nabizadah, originally from Afghanistan.
Nabizadah was found on a footpath in Miramar about 2.20am on Monday, at the intersection of Camperdown Rd and Totara Rd.
It was the second serious incident after the burglary of a Darlington Rd address earlier that morning, where two adults found a stranger in their home.
Nabizadah was found by police carrying out area inquiries after the Darlington burglary.
He died in hospital the next day, March 18.
The cause of death was a result of blunt-force head injuries, police said.
In a post online, “Afghans in New Zealand” said they were “deeply saddened to hear of the tragic loss”.
“This is shocking news for the Afghan community in Aotearoa. May Allah forgive him, grant him the highest place in Jannat al-Firdaus, and bestow Sabr Jameel upon his family during this difficult time,” it said.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with them.”
Detective Inspector Nick Pritchard said Nabizadah was not involved in the burglary.
“We are still trying to establish how he was injured,” he said.
Nabizadah was released to his family yesterday and laid to rest on Thursday afternoon.
Pritchard said police are now seeking help from the public. They would like to hear from any motorists who were driving in the Miramar area between midnight and 3am on Monday, March 17.
They are seeking dashcam footage from anyone in the area during that time.
“Members of the public may play a crucial role in helping us piece together the events that unfolded early that morning, and police are now widening our area of focus,” he said.
Police would also like to hear from anyone who was in the Nevay Rd, Camperdown Rd and Darlington Rd area between 12.20am and 3am that same morning.
Nabizadah was wearing a brown jacket with a blue T-shirt underneath, black trousers and light brown shoes, Pritchard said.
“He was located near his vehicle, a silver-coloured Toyota Aqua with the registration NQE681,” Pritchard said.
Police are urging anyone who thinks they saw a person fitting that description to contact them as soon as possible.
They are reviewing CCTV and inquiries into the victim’s movements are ongoing.
Police are still working to establish if there is a link between Nabizadah’s death and the earlier burglary.
Katie Oliver is a Christchurch-based multimedia journalist and breaking news reporter.
'I thought I could grieve my baby brother and let them take over ... I feel so dumb.'