Op Brad; Waihi Beach homicide, release 6

As they review hundreds of images supplied by the public, Police say this assistance is enabling them to build an accurate picture of what happened in Waihi Beach early on New Years Day shortly before a man was fatally stabbed.

Waikato District Crime Manager, Detective Chris Page, said as Operation Brad, the investigation into the murder of 64-year-old Murray WILKINSON, heads into its eighth day the events leading up to the fatal attack are becoming clearer.

"We knew there were a lot of people, predominantly intoxicated youths, in and around the area where the attack took place and we have confirmed there were several incidents of assaults and disorder.

"What the response to appeals for information and images has done however, is enable us to identify people, places and times as we piece together the various parts of the jigsaw of our investigation."

Mr Page said about 30 Police staff from across the Waikato, Central and Upper North Island continue to work on the case as part of what Police refer to as a 'whole of policing' response.

While Police have a wealth of statements and images to review Mr Page said this didn't mean they weren't after more and encouraged people who have not already spoken to the enquiry team to make contact with them.

The Operation Brad enquiry team can be found at the Waihi Beach and Waihi Police stations or contacted via the enquiry crimeline; 0800 OP BRAD (0800 672723).

Alternatively information can be left anonymously with Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On Failures Of Care For Those With Mental Disabilities

Hard to imagine a more disturbing insight into the treatment of the vulnerable than the Health Ministry report on Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau. The Ministry has found that the country’s only kaupapa Maori intellectual disability residential care provider has been “seriously dysfunctional.”

The ministry says the business has failed to recruit and retain quality staff – and says the kaimahi (caregivers) that have been employed are seriously unsuitable for the job, lacking basic knowledge. But Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau doesn’t get all the blame. The report says there’s a significant gap under disability laws to ensure there’s oversight by qualified clinical professionals. More>>