Police investigating the discovery of a man's body in Mansfield Street, Tauranga yesterday morning (Sunday, 30 November) hope to complete the examination of the scene later today.
In the meantime a post mortem is underway this morning to establish exact cause of death. Although police will not be drawn at this stage as to the cause of the man's injuries, the scene examination indicates that the man walked for some distance following his suspected assault.
A blood trail leads from outside a Mansfield Street address where a party was held on Saturday night. It would appear he then walked along Mansfield Street and Jane Way into the reserve before looping back to where he was discovered outside a second address Mansfield Street address. He would have covered a distance of approximately half a kilometre and police would like to speak to anyone who saw a man in this location in the early hours of the morning.
Police believe there is a link between the man's death and an assault on Ohauiti Road near the intersection with Welcome Bay Road. In this second incident a man suffered hand and facial injuries. Police also believe that those responsible travelled to both locations in a vehicle and then left those locations in that vehicle a short time later. The time which is the main focus of the police investigation is between midnight and 1am.
Police expect to be able to release the name of the man who died this afternoon once the post mortem and formal identification have taken place.
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.