Victim of suspected homicide a loved father, friend and son

Friday, 5 January 2024

David Bridgwater, right, with his former colleague Oly Nicholas.

The victim of a suspected homicide in Christchurch was a father to a young son whose family “were the most important thing to him in the world.”

Police launched a homicide investigation after the 38-year-old was found dead in Carisbrooke St, near the corner of Portchester St, in Aranui just before 2.30am on Thursday.

He can now be named as David Bridgwater, a road worker from Woolston. He also went by Dave, or Cyris. Friends have described him as a devoted family man who loved cars, his family and friends.

A cross is placed on a post in Carisbrooke St, Aranui, where the body of David Bridgwater was found in the early hours of Thursday.

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A number of friends of Bridgwater spoke to The Press while laying flowers at the scene on Friday.

Bridgwater had been to Juicy Fest - a hip-hop and R&B festival at QEII Park - on Wednesday, hours before he was allegedly killed, they said.

Flowers tied to a post on Carisbrooke St in Aranui, near where David Bridgwater was found dead in the early hours of Thursday.

A father to a young son, Bridgwater was a kind-hearted, caring guy who wouldn’t go looking for trouble without a reason, friends said. He lived with his mum in Woolston and was a family man.

“I never knew him to be anywhere else. He loved his family, his mum and his son. They were the most important thing to him in the world”, one friend said.

The man said he expected there would be a big tangi held for Bridgwater at some point. He had a lot of friends, and made a positive impact on anyone who met him.

“He was someone everyone loved. Just a good dude to be around.”

Friends of Bridgwater described him as a devoted family man.

He said he didn’t know how or why Bridgwater ended up at a house on Carisbrooke St after the festival, who lived there, or whether Bridgwater had been involved in any sort of altercation.

He said his mate wouldn’t have gone looking for trouble, but would also have no problem defending himself if he needed to.

“There would’ve had to have been a reason. It’s sad that people won’t talk. People just go and hide when something like this happens.”

Bridgwater was as a road worker. He worked hard and played hard, the friend said. He loved cars and had grown up around them. He was always a Toyota man, and had a similar model before getting his beloved Toyota Crown, which he drove everywhere.

More flowers tied to a post near where Bridgwater died.

Colleague Oly Nicholas met Bridgwater a couple of years ago when they worked for the same roadworks company.

She was also laying flowers - 38 sunflowers for Bridgwater’s age - at the scene when she spoke to The Press.

The pair would run into each other at work from time to time, and he always stopped to say hello.

He was a good and friendly man, she said.

Police are interesting in sightings of this 2006 white Toyota Crown sedan car, registration LEQ 895, which is believed to have been driven by Bridgwater.

“You couldn’t fault him. He was the happiest, most genuine person I’ve met. That’s why it’s quite a shock for him not to be here”, she said.

“It’s just a shame. I hope they catch whoever did it.”

Bridgwater last posted on Facebook on Christmas Day.

A friend of David Bridgwater looks on as another ties a cross to a post in his memory, not far from where his body was discovered. Bridgwater's death is being treated as a suspected homicide.

“I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a safe holidays and remember it's not what's under the tree it's who's around it I lost a few people this year that were very important to me and are no longer around,” he wrote.

“Shout out to those who are struggling with their mental health but getting up daily no matter what. This time of year can hit worse. Look after each other.”

Friend Michael Sturgess took to Facebook to pay tribute to his friend.

“With a heavy heart and very sore eyes from crying, you will be missed so much my brother. You didn't deserve to go this way, much love always and feeling for your whānau and friends right now.

Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves speaks to media at the scene of the suspected Aranui homicide on Thursday.

“You will always have a piece of my heart and I'll love and cherish all the memories brother, miss your smile and sense of humor, rest in love my brother.”

Police remained at the scene on Friday as they continued their investigations.

One Carisbrooke St resident, who did not want to be named, said she woke up to the sound of yelling on the street on the early hours of Thursday.

She didn't think anything of it and went back to sleep.

It wasn't until she woke up in the morning and saw 'heaps' of police outside, that she realised something bad must've happened.

Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves confirmed on Friday that no arrests had been made.

Police had received reports of sightings of Bridgwater’s car - a 2006 white Toyota Crown sedan that has been a focus of the investigation - in the lead up to his death, and were appealing for more. The car had a sunroof, a distinctive feature police said may help identify it.

They had also received a number of CCTV leads. In total, detectives had received upwards of 20 pieces of information as of Friday afternoon.

“It’s been really helpful. Obviously we have our own investigation team, but we are very heavily reliant on the community to help us where they can,” Reeves said.

Police want to hear from anyone who heard or saw anything unusual in and around Carisbrooke St around 2am on Thursday, including anyone with CCTV footage which could help in the investigation. Quote Operation Walter or 240104/2142.

Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.