Three Charged With Murder After Featherston Attack

New Zealand Police National News Release 3:33pm

23 October 2008

Three people have been jointly charged with the murder of Featherston man Paul Irons.

Mr Irons died last week in Wellington Hospital where he was being treated for serious head and chest injuries following an attack in Featherston during the early hours of Thursday, 9 October.

Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Borrell, head of the homicide investigation, said a 15-year-old male, 17-year-old male and 25-year-old male appeared in the Masterton Court today. They were jointly charged with murder and aggravated robbery with the oldest also facing a separate assault charge.

The two older men have continued name suppression that will be reviewed at their next Court appearance and the 15-year-old has automatic name suppression due to his age.

The three have been remanded without plea to reappear in the Masterton Youth Court on 13 November. The older man continues to be remanded in custody while the remaining two are remanded on bail

Detective Senior Sergeant Borrell said the new charges were laid after a review of the investigation that has included the preliminary post mortem results and consultation with the Crown Solicitor.

He said the fresh charges do not mean the end of the police investigation. "There is still some inquiries to follow up and continuous process of review and analysis as occurs with most homicide investigations. I envisage this will keep a now scaled down team busy for some time," he said.

ENDS

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