Stabbed man has memory blank

An injured Rotorua man found in a house with a dead body says he cannot remember what happened.

The 49-year-old man was found clutching his bleeding abdomen in a Konene St house about 12.30am on Friday.

He had been stabbed several times and was taken to Rotorua Hospital.

Rotorua man Raukawa Ben Newton, 38, was found dead in the home's lounge.

A post mortem examination has found he died from a stab wound to the aorta, the body's largest artery.

The injured man has been interviewed by police and was expected to be released from hospital today.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Loper said the 49-year-old had told police he could not remember what had happened.

"He is unable to recall the incident which occurred so that means we will be relying on our scene examination and forensics to piece this matter together."

Mr Loper said a scene examination was still under way.

The house would remain cordoned off for at least another day or two.

He said police were keen to talk to the occupants of a 4WD seen near the Konene St house.



Mr Loper said the Toyota Hilux-type vehicle was seen down the driveway of the Konene St house and adjoining homes about 8.30pm on Thursday.

He believed the people in the vehicle left the house before the incident but police are still keen to speak to them.

Given the man in hospital was not able to recall the incident police would have to rely on the scene examination and results of forensics to "piece this matter together".

He said that could take up to two months.

The house where the two men, who were associates, were found is down a driveway with a cluster of three other homes.

One of the men lived in the house but Mr Loper declined to say which.