Mother angry at lack of information from police about her son's death

Friday, 14 June 2024

Dean Fifield was killed by a car and a 40-year-old woman known to him was charged with his murder

Fifield’s mother says she is angry that she is finding out information on her son’s death via media instead of the police

Detective Senior Sergeant Nick Poland said they weren’t seeking anyone else in relation to the incident

The mother of a man allegedly killed when he was hit by a car says police have given her no information and didn’t inform her they had charged a woman with his murder.

Dean Fifield, a father of three, died after he was struck by a vehicle at Massey in West Auckland on Thursday evening.

A 40-year-old woman has been charged with murder and is due to appear in the Waitākere District Court on Friday.

Fifield’s mother Robyn Scown told Stuff police visited her home on Friday morning to inform her that her son had died but she had received no information since.

“I just want to know what’s going on…just some information, instead of finding out over the news. The police have got to really step up.”

Scown said she was told someone from Victim Support would visit her but as at Friday lunchtime no-one had arrived so she was heading to Auckland to find out more where she would meet her other son.

In response police said they spoke to the victim’s next of kin in the early hours of this morning, and were still in the process of updating family members.

Do you know more? Email Nadine Roberts

She said she didn’t know why anyone would want to hurt Fifield, and had no idea who the woman who was charged with his murder could be.

“He doesn’t have a partner. Nothing seems to add up.”

Police previously said the pair were known to each other.

Scown said she hadn’t seen Fifield since last August when he was released on bail to Massey for hitting her - a charge she vehemently denied happened.

Instead she said, she had rung police to help her son, after she grew concerned he was having a breakdown.

He also spent five weeks in prison a few years ago, but was cleared by a jury of a strangulation charge against a former partner.

Scown said her son was strong willed and always wanted to help people, and was a father of three.

Waitematā CIB’s Detective Senior Sergeant Nick Poland said police were not seeking anyone else.

“We would like to reassure the community that this appears to be an isolated incident.”

Poland said the community could expect to see an increased police in the area while further enquiries were carried out.

“A scene guard remains in place this [Friday] morning and will likely continue throughout the day.”

Corrections: An earlier version of this story included incorrect biographical information about Dean Fifield. Date: 03/07/2024.