A man has appeared in court following a fatal stabbing in Kawerau last night.
Police were called to a property on Holyoake Crescent in the Bay of Plenty mill town about 8pm where they found a dead man with fatal injuries to his neck. A woman and another man were also at the address.
Police said a 31-year-old man appeared in Whakatane District Court this morning charged with assault.
They have previously said further charges were likely.
The names of the accused and the victim were suppressed by the court.
The man is to reappear on January 16.
A witness told the Herald yesterday the mother of the victim arrived within minutes of the property being cordoned off, sobbing and fighting to get into the house to see her son.
Meanwhile, police are continuing to investigate the brutal bashing of a 71-year-old Kawerau woman who suffered severe facial injuries when an intruder barged into her home in the early hours of December 29..
Detective Inspector Tim Anderson said yesterday police had identified a person of interest thanks to information from the public.
However, they were still awaiting the results of a forensic examination of the woman's car.
"We hope to have a resolution for this matter, and we're very thankful for the assistance and information provided by the community, mainly in Kawerau."
Mr Anderson said the victim was a strong woman who was "determined to get along with things in a positive fashion, despite the ordeal".
She was scheduled for surgery in Waikato Hospital in the next week or so.
The victim needed titanium plates in both eye sockets and treatment for a split left ear, shattered tooth socket and fractured
