Police in Whanganui have launched a homicide inquiry following the death of a 25-year-old man.
At approximately 11.40 last night (Tuesday, 1 November) Police received a report of a disturbance at a town house in Bedford Avenue, Gonville, Whanganui. When Police arrived at the address they were informed that someone had been driven from the address to Whanganui Hospital injured.
At the hospital it was confirmed that a 25-year-old man had been brought to the hospital by a small group of people who had then left the hospital. The man died shortly after arriving at the hospital.
Enquiries ongoing throughout the night have established that there were a number of people socialising at the address in Bedford Avenue during the day; approximately 15 men and women. The deceased was one of those people. He did not live at the address but was a Whanganui man.
Alcohol was being consumed and it is believed that throughout the day and evening there were some disagreements that culminated in a more serious altercation. It was at this point that the victim is believed to have been fatally injured.
Police are not prepared to discuss the nature of the injuries at this point for investigative reasons. A post mortem will be carried out tomorrow to establish cause of death.
Police have identified a number of people who were at the address and are now talking to those people to establish what happened at the address
Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Kirby said: "We are yet to establish how the man came by his injuries; however we are at this stage treating his death as suspicious.
"We believe we have identified most of the people were at the address but if there is anyone else who visited the house yesterday who hasn't yet been spoken to by Police we would encourage them to contact us."
Police are also interested in the movements of a Red Ford Telstar vehicle. It is believed this vehicle was in the Bedford Avenue area and is also the vehicle used to transport the deceased to the hospital.
Police will today start speaking in detail to those known to be at the house and any other identified witnesses. A scene examination is also underway at the Bedford Avenue address.
The man will not be named until next of kin have been informed.
Anyone with information relevant to this investigation is asked to contact Whanganui Police on 06 349 0600. Alternatively information can be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Media enquiries should be referred to Communications Manager Kim Perks on 027 234 8256.