Suspected murder suicide after bail breach

The man who died after a suspected murder suicide in Pukekohe was on electronic bail following a violent rampage where he shoved a child from a moving car before allegedly assaulting a witness.

Viliami Latu, who police believe murdered his estranged partner and mother of his children Toakase Finau, also breached bail several weeks before the killing at his brother’s house, Stuff understands.

Despite the breach, where he travelled to his ex-partner’s home, he was allowed to remain in the community subject to electronic monitoring.

On Wednesday morning, while at his court approved bail address, detectives believe he killed mother-of-four Finau before attempting to take his own life.

Officers arrived about 9am to conduct a bail check and found him in a critical condition, along with a note. They found Finau, 29, dead at the scene.

Latu was rushed to Middlemore hospital, where he remained in a critical condition for three days.

He was not charged before police announced his death on Saturday. Both deaths are to be referred to the coroner.

Inquiries by Stuff following the launch of the homicide investigation by Counties Manukau police have shed new light on the circumstances leading up to Wednesday’s tragedy.

Neighbours and people who shared a house with the couple at their former rental property in O¯ tara have described an abusive relationship where Finau would often be seen with injuries including black eyes.

Others described Latu wandering the streets of O¯ tara with a machete after staying up for days at a time.

Matters came to a head in November, during a funeral celebration for the father of a woman who lived across the road.

Witnesses said Latu began driving erratically around in his black people mover, with several children aboard. Two witnesses told Stuff they saw him shove a young child from a moving vehicle.

Neighbour Jason Bevins was one of the people who called police that day. While he was on the phone to police, Latu tackled Bevins to the ground, leaving him with injuries that still limit the use of his hand.

It took several officers to arrest Latu, who was later bailed to the home of his brother’s family in Pukekohe. Police earlier said they are not seeking anyone else in relation to the incident.