Invercargill fatal assault victim named

Police have named the man who died overnight following an assault in Invercargill.

He was 27-year-old Chanel Lee Simmonds, also known as Chanel Lee Henwood, from Invercargill.

He was attending a birthday party at the Marist Old Boys Rugby Football Club in Georgetown when he died.

A police spokesperson told Stuff that emergency services were called to the clubrooms about 11.45pm on Saturday. 

He was unresponsive when they arrived. 

Detective Senior Sergeant Stu Harvey said a 32-year-old man has been arrested for assault, and is due to appear in Invercargill District Court on Monday.

Marist club president Bill Dowling said the clubrooms were hired out for a "private function" that had no affiliation with the club.

The private event was originally intended to have been held elsewhere but that venue had been double booked, Mr Dowling said.

"It could have been anywhere."

A local woman, who did not want to be named, expressed her shock over the incident and told Stuff she didn't hear anything unusual. 

The circumstances of the death are currently being investigated by Southland CIB. 

The family of the deceased has asked for their privacy to be respected at this time.

 

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