News from NZ Police
Counties Manukau Police have arrested a 27 year old unemployed man and charged him with the murder of Manurewa resident Richard John Lees.

Police commenced a homicide investigation last Friday after the body of the 55 year victim was discovered in the converted garage where he lived. A post mortem revealed head injuries.

The accused man will appear in the Counties Manukau District Court today charged with the murder of Mr Lees on Thursday. A further charge of theft which relates to property stolen from the deceased’s home has also been laid.

Police investigations related to this homicide continue. Investigators are searching addresses of interest to the enquiry. A focus of their ongoing interest is whether other persons are implicated both in aiding the accused and in matters relating to the property stolen.

Police express their appreciation to the public and the media for the cooperation and assistance which has been received.

Police ask anyone who has information that will assist them in their ongoing enquiries to call Counties Manukau Police on 09 261 1300 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

News from NZ Police – October 15
Counties Manukau Police have named the man who was killed in a sleepout in Manurewa on Friday morning. He was Richard John Lees. He is survived by a wife and daughter. Family members in New Zealand and in England have been informed of his death.

The examination of his accommodation continues today

Police are wanting to hear from anyone who may be able to provide information and in particular about any activity in the vicinity of Mr Lees’ address of 217 Great South Road Manurewa between Thursday and Friday last week. Mr Lees was last seen at his address at about 11am on Thursday.

If anyone has any information about the death they are urged to call Police immediately on 09 261 1300 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

News from NZ Police – October 14
Counties Manukau Police continue to examine the scene at 217 Great South Road in Manurewa where the body of a 55 year old man was discovered on Friday.

Police commenced a homicide enquiry after an autopsy revealed the man died of head injuries. They believe the victim was attacked in the converted garage where he lived.

A forensic examination of the sleep out is in progress and a team of police are talking to residents and those living in nearby neighbourhoods. Police say there’s been excellent cooperation from the public but more information is needed.

Information from anyone who was in the vicinity of the victim’s address in the 24 hours period from last Thursday to Friday morning is of particular interest to Police. Any activity that on its own may not appear to have any significance could be critical to the police enquiry so all information received will be of value to this investigation.

The identity of the victim has not yet been released. It is believed that he has family connections in the United Kingdom and efforts to locate next of kin are in progress.

Police say that their investigations so far indicate that there is nothing that warrants this innocent member of the community having to suffer such a violent death. This victim was living a normal, routine, quiet life.

Police appeal to anyone who has information that will assist them to call Counties Manukau Police on 09 261 1300 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

News from NZ Police – October 13
Counties Manukau Police confirm that their investigation into the death of a 55 year old man in Manurewa is now being treated as a homicide.

Soon after 10.00am on Friday, police went to a Manurewa address where they found the body of a man in a converted garage where he lived. Police confirm the death was the result of head injuries. They believe the victim was attacked while in his sleep out.

Police are appealing to the public and the local Manurewa community to come forward with any information of suspicious activity seen at or in the vicinity of 217 Great South Road.

Information on any activity in or around this address between Thursday morning 11 October 2012 and Friday morning 12 October 2012 is of particular interest to police.

The victim’s address is close to a busy intersection at Weymouth Road and Ormiston Road. A team of police is canvassing the area talking to residents and members of the community.

Police urge anyone who has information that will assist them to call Counties Manukau Police on 09 261 1300 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

News from NZ Police – October 12
Counties Manukau Police are investigating a suspicious death in Manurewa. The deceased is thought to be a Manurewa local man aged around 55.

Police received a phone call this morning reporting that a man had been found dead at 217 Great South Road. The phone call was made by one of his flatmates.

The dead man was found in a sleep out, out the back of the house where he lived.

“Police are treating the death as suspicious,” said Detective Inspector Jim Gallagher. “The man was showing evidence of injury and there will be a post-mortem this afternoon to determine the cause of death.”

The address, 217 Great South Road Manurewa is now a cordoned off and is being treated as a crime scene. Police Officers are starting enquiries to help progress the investigation and are talking with members of the community.

If anyone has any information about the death they are urged to call Police immediately on 09 261 1300 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Content Sourced from scoop.co.nz
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