The officer leading the investigation into the death of a man in Tauranga is appealing to any members of the public who saw a bleeding man wandering around the Mansfield Street area early on Sunday morning.
Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Turner told media at a briefing in Tauranga this morning that there was a disturbance at a Mansfield Road address at approximately 12.30am on Sunday (30, November) when a group arrived in a vehicle that has yet to be identified. The people in that vehicle spoke to the occupants of the address and then left again. It was later noticed that a 19-year-old visitor to the address had not returned to the property that night, but his friends were not overly concerned by this.
"We have followed a blood trail from the address where the disturbance was; approximately 500 metres in a circular route," DSS Turner. It has looped around Mansfield Street into Jane Way and back through some parkland to a neighbouring Mansfield Street property where we found the body. If there are any members of the public who have observed a man, who would have appeared to have been bleeding, we are keen to speak to them. We are also keen to speak to anyone who has noticed any vehicles in that particular area half an hour either side of 12.30am on Sunday morning."
There is no information at this stage to suggest that the victim knocked on any doors or sought help after he was injured. Police do however believe that a youth who suffered minor stab wounds in an assault on nearby Ohauiti Road knocked on several doors before the occupant of one notified the police. DSS Greg Turner confirmed his belief that this incident and the death in Mansfield Street are linked.
No weapon has been located at this stage and anyone in the Mansfield Street, Jane Way and Ohauiti Road areas is asked to check their properties for any discarded items of any sort that may be linked to this investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Tauranga Police on 07 577 4300. Information can also be provided anonymously to the organisation Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Media enquiries should be referred to Communications Manager Kim Perks on 027 234 8256.