Stratford man charged with manslaughter of Wellington man in relation to an incident on September 11th, 2010

Wellington Police today charged a 23 year old Stratford man with the manslaughter of Wellington man Michael Charles Drew.

Mr Drew, aged 52 years, was initially taken to Wellington Hospital in a serious condition following an assault in Tasman Street, Mount Cook on Saturday 11th September 2010, but never regained consciousness from his injuries.

He died in hospital on 15th September 2010 and Police then launched a homicide inquiry.

Officer in charge of the investigation Detective Senior Sergeant Scott Miller says the offender appeared in the New Plymouth District Court this morning charged with assault. This charge was withdrawn and a charge of manslaughter was laid, where a guilty plea was entered. He currently has interim name suppression on the new charge.

He has been remanded on bail to appear at the High Court in Wellington for sentencing on 14 December 2010.

Detective Senior Sergeant Miller says Police had a good response from members of the public who witnessed the assault or saw events both before or after it occurred.