Fatal attempt to make peace
A ‘‘good Samaritan’’ has died after intervening to prevent an early morning fight.
Ken Poihipi, 64, stepped in to stop two young men squaring up in a dispute over cheating with a partner, on the main street outside a bar in the South Auckland suburb of Papakura, an eyewitness said.
But the Clendon man instead fell to the ground, allegedly after being assaulted.
The incident occurred about 2.40am yesterday on the corner of Elliot St and Great South Rd.
He was rushed to Middlemore Hospital in a critical condition but later died from his injuries, Detective Senior Sergeant Richard O’Connor said.
Family members said they had yet to learn the full details, but they too had been told Poihipi had died after trying to prevent a fight.
The eyewitness, who did not want to be named, said she and Poihipi had been chatting earlier. She said he was being a ‘‘good Samaritan’’ by trying to take a young man away so he was not beaten up.
‘‘And the old fella paid with his life.’’
Brother Buck Poihipi had driven up from Whakatane to be with loved ones who gathered at the family home in Clendon.
He said Poihipi had been moving homes on Friday, relocating belongings to Rangiriri. He was unsure why Poihipi had been in Papakura.
The family planned to hold a tangi at Horahora Marae in the Waikato.
O’Connor said two men arrested as part of the homicide investigation were released from custody last night. ‘‘Both men have been cooperating with the investigation and no charges have been laid at this time,’’ he said.