Live: Man charged with murder after fatal Auckland bus stabbing
Friday, 25 October 2024
Police say the man suspected of repeatedly stabbing a woman on an Auckland bus had been sitting next to her for some time.
A woman died on Wednesday after being stabbed in the upper body on the bus in Onehunga.
Acting Detective Inspector Alisse Robertson said on Thursday morning a homicide investigation had been launched following the Wednesday afternoon attack.
The man had been identified as Kael Leona, who is in his late 30s.
Police said at 3.20pm on Thursday that a man had been taken into custody. On Friday morning, they said a man had been charged with murder.
A passenger told RNZ she held the victim’s hand as they waited for help.
According to court documents, Leona is 37.
Shortly before he handed himself in, Leona was spotted in Spring St in Onehunga.
Property manager Jeena Percival said she got a call from tenants. She said a man believed to be Leona was asking a tenant for a cigarette.
She described him as appearing “paranoid and dodgy”.
The police arrived a short time later. One of the tenants gave police CCTV footage.
She said Leona was known to police and was most comfortable in the East Auckland area.
Officers had spoken to his family, who were concerned for his welfare and wanted him to cooperate with police.
Robertson said it appeared to be random, and like any other bus ride for the victim. The pair were not known to each other.
About nine other people were on the bus.
“We know the community will be understandably alarmed by what has occurred and we are doing everything we can to locate this person and hold them to account.”
She said there would be an increased police presence in the Onehunga and Mt Wellington areas.
“We have a dedicated team working very hard and they’ve been working all through the night and are continuing to locate this person and bring reassurance and safety.”
The victim was taken to Auckland Hospital after the stabbing in a critical condition but later died. A post-mortem would be carried out in the coming days.
Police were supporting the woman’s family following the attack, that Robertson described as “extremely tragic”.
“We feel for them, we’re supporting them. It’s the worst thing that can possibly happen to anyone.”
The bus where the assault took place was towed away from Church St on Wednesday evening for further police examination.
Armed police were at an address on Moana Ave on Wednesday night, and Robertson said this was related to a vehicle of interest and people who gave statements in relation to the stabbing.
There were items of interest, that were being examined forensically. Robertson would not confirm if the knife had been recovered.
A police helicopter was flying over the suburb overnight and police were still working in the area early on Thursday.