Teenage boy charged over dairy murder
A 13-year-old boy has been charged with murder over yesterday’s death of Auckland dairy owner Arun Kumar.
Mr Kumar, 57, was allegedly stabbed in the neck during what police described as an aggravated robbery at Railside Dairy in Henderson.
Police said the 13-year-old had been charged with aggravated robbery and murder and a 12-year-old had been charged with aggravated robbery.
Both boys had been placed into the custody of a secure Child Youth and Family facility overnight, ahead of their court appearance in the Waitakere Youth Court today, police said.
Mr Kumar died yesterday morning outside his dairy on Great North Rd in Henderson, West Auckland.
Police said they were called to the property at 7.30am. Ambulance staff gave assistance to Mr Kumar, but he died at the scene. Mr Scott said nothing was taken from the shop, in the incident he described as an aggravated robbery. “We don’t know what they were targeting,” he said.
Mr Kumar’s wife was in the shop at the time of the incident.
Mr Scott said Mr Kumar had suffered wounds to his neck.
A weapon had not yet been located, but police “know what we are looking for”.
He wouldn’t confirm that Mr Kumar had been stabbed in the attack. Mr Scott said police had gathered CCTV footage from the dairy and nearby shops and were speaking to witnesses. “There’s quite a few people out and about at 7.30,” he said.
He urged anyone else who was in the area at the time to contact police.
People at Mr Kumar’s home in Henderson yesterday afternoon said the family were too upset to speak to media.
Ambulance staff attempted first aid however the man — now identified as Mr Kumar — died at the scene.
Police cordoned off the scene and a large blue tarpaulin covered the area near the dairy. Officers took photographs and searched nearby for evidence.
— APNZ