Man charged with murder in relation to Opotiki death

Attribute to Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Standen, Eastern Area Manager: Investigations: 
 
Bay of Plenty Police have today arrested a 50-year-old Opotiki man in relation to the death of Brian Albert Hilton in July 2016. 
 
The man has been charged with murder and will be appearing in Whakatane District Court on Wednesday 19 December. 
 
Mr Hilton was admitted to Tauranga Hospital on 7 July 2016 with facial injuries, from what was believed at the time to be a fall in his home. He died six days later. 
 
Police recently received new information and as a result reopened the investigation into Mr Hilton’s death. 
 
This has been an extremely difficult time for Mr Hilton’s family and they continue to request privacy. They do not wish to make any comment to media at this stage. 
 
As the matter is now before the Court, no further comment can be made at this time. 
 
ENDS
 
Issued by Police Media Centre.