Man charged after stabbing
Woman dies in Westgate street as shocked witnesses rush to help
A63-year-old man has been charged with murder after the fatal stabbing of a woman in West Auckland yesterday. Several members of the public — including a construction worker and woman driving past — stopped to help but the victim died on Westgate Drive just after 8.30am.
The man allegedly seen stabbing the woman fled in a car.
He was apprehended soon after and is in police custody.
Detective Inspector Colin Parmenter said the accused was known to the victim.
The Herald understands that the man is the woman’s ex partner.
“We are in the process of contacting the victim’s next of kin,” Parmenter said.
“Police would like to commend members of the public who acted swiftly to try and help the victim this morning. One member of the public who was at the scene managed to bring the man’s vehicle to a stop after he fled, enabling police to quickly apprehend him.
“Other members of the public at the scene administered CPR on the victim, unfortunately to no avail.”
Parmenter said those on the scene and “others who witnessed this horrific event” were being supported.
“And we are grateful to them for their assistance,” he said.
A post-mortem examination is due to take place today.
The accused will also appear in the Waitakere District Court today.
The Herald yesterday heard a number of accounts of the stabbing from several witnesses.
A construction foreman said he heard a woman screaming. When he looked up he could see what he thought was a woman being stabbed in the back. She then fell to the ground.
The worker ran to her and before he got there another person in a car had stopped. When the worker got to the woman, she was already dead.
Another person who stopped tried to give the victim CPR.
The street remains cordoned off as police and forensic specialists examine the scene.