Car important to murder inquiry of 17-year-old

Police investigating the murder of 17 year-old Augustine Borrell would like to hear from the occupants of a Mercedes Benz car that Hamilton Rd party-goers say assaulted some of them before Augustine was killed.

Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Breach says various independent witness statements taken so far have mentioned four young men who were travelling in the car and who were smartly dressed.

"We've been advised that these men approached party-goers on and near the Hamilton Rd address where up to 50 young people had gathered for a private celebration," Mr Breach said.

"At least one of the car's occupants has then used some sort of bat to assault some of those leaving the party. We need to speak with these young men to see what, if any, part they had in the fatal altercation with Augustine."

The young men have variously been described as probably Caucasian, well-dressed and possibly known to some of the party-goers. If anyone has information about who they were or where the car could be located, they should call Operation Hamilton on 0508 426 458.

The investigation team's activities today are centred around completing the scene examination on Hamilton Rd and at an address on the street, doing background inquiries into Augustine's associates and friends, viewing and analysing security surveillance footage from the BP service station opposite the crime scene and following up on information received from witnesses and party-goers to date.

Late shift staff from Ponsonby station will also be carrying out area inquiries in Herne Bay this afternoon from about 4.30pm. 

Student victim named
3:31pm 9 September 2007

The young man killed in Herne Bay's Hamilton Rd shortly after midnight this morning was 17 year-old Auckland Grammar student Augustine Akateuroa Borrell [pron. bor-rell] of Papatoetoe.

Police investigating his death say he died after being stabbed in the chest. A weapon has been recovered from Hamilton Rd near where Augustine died.

Officers are currently speaking with people who hosted and who attended a party in Hamilton Rd which was shut down at about midnight. At this stage it's estimated that between 30 and 40 young people were at the party which was disturbed by a group of young men shortly before midnight.

Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Breach said early reports from witnesses of the stabbing say there was a group of young Polynesian men in the area making trouble which prompted the party hosts to close it down.

"It would appear that Augustine has somehow come into fatal contact with this group once he and his friends left the party," Mr Breach.

"I've heard nothing yet to indicate why he was stabbed. It certainly seems at this stage that he was an innocent 17 year-old going about his lawful business.

"We've got a lot of work to do and we're very keen to hear from anyone who has information about people in the area between 11.30pm and 1am who may be able to progress the investigation.

"If anyone has taken photos on their mobile 'phones of people who might be able to assist us, we'd be happy to hear from them." 

Post mortem scheduled
11:15am 9 September 2007

The body of the young man killed in Hamilton Rd, Herne Bay, shortly after midnight this morning will undergo a post-mortem examination at 11am.

Police investigating his death have cordoned Hamilton Rd and a part of Jervois Rd off and a forensic scene examination is being carried out by ESR scientists, Police photography and fingerprint sections.

Police hope to be able to formally identify the young man early this afternoon and release his name shortly after that. It's believed he died after being stabbed but the cause of death will be clearer once the post-mortem has been completed.

Police who attended the call for assistance outside a Hamilton Rd address tried to assist the young man when they arrived at 17 minutes after midnight, but he died at the scene.

His body was later transported to Auckland Hospital.

Police are currently interviewing some residents of Hamilton Rd in order to clarify the sequence of events that unfolded there and in neighbouring streets late last night and in the early hours of this morning.

It's believed the dead man had attended a party in Hamilton Rd before he was killed.