Miramar homicide investigation

The story so far

Police investigated a break-in at a Miramar home, Wellington, at about 2am on Monday 17 March, in which a resident was injured, and checked whether it was linked to a critically injured man found nearby. A police dog unit tracked a suspect for several hundred metres before losing the trail.^{17, 24 Mar 2025} The man, aged 63, was found with serious head injuries on a Miramar footpath and died in hospital. A post-mortem later found he died from a blunt force assault, and police launched a homicide investigation.^{18, 19, 21, 25 Mar 2025} A 28-year-old man has been charged with aggravated burglary and aggravated injury over the home incident and was remanded in custody. Police are investigating a possible link between the burglary and the death.^{26 Mar 2025} Police are appealing for information about a grey or silver Mazda Atenza seen in Miramar on 17 March, and for certain clothing items.^{31 Mar 2025}

Latest

Police are seeking information about a grey or silver Mazda Atenza seen in Miramar on 17 March. The investigation is now treated as a homicide and aggravated burglary inquiry.^{31 Mar 2025}

Key moments

1. 17 Mar 2025Miramar home break-in; resident injured; police dog loses suspect trail.
2. 18 Mar 2025Critically injured man dies in hospital; unexplained death investigation launched.
3. 25 Mar 2025Post-mortem finds blunt force assault; homicide investigation launched.
4. 26 Mar 202528-year-old man charged with aggravated burglary, remanded in custody.
5. 31 Mar 2025Police appeal for information on grey or silver Mazda Atenza.

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.