Nelson Homicide update Sunday 15 November

4 people are in custody on a variety of charges and will appear in the Nelson District Court tomorrow morning.

A 5th person is sought, along with 2 vehicles that were used by the alleged offenders to leave the scene at Branford Park. Police know his identity and hoped that he would make contact with them soon.

ESR staff are due to arrive in Nelson this morning, and the main focus today will be on an examination of the scene and the exhibits that remain there. It is hoped to extract the body later today for forensic post-mortem.

Police were initially called around 6pm yesterday after reports of up to 12 people fighting. This was followed shortly thereafter by a report of a firearm being discharged and that a person was dead.

Detective Inspector Winter said that police were keen to speak to witnesses who were either at Branford Park and had not yet been spoken to, or who had relevant information to pass on.

Mr Winter said that police were now aware of the background to the confrontation, which involved a woman who was known to both groups. Police understood there had been a level of tension over the past few months that was escalating in intensity.