Family ‘ruined’ by Waihi Beach killer

The family of a man who died after being stabbed in a ‘‘brutal and senseless’’ attack in the early hours of New Year’s Day say their lives have been ruined and they are desperate to find his killer.

Robert Murray Wilkinson, known as Murray, was stabbed outside a caravan parked in the driveway of a Waihi Beach house about 1am on Tuesday.

The 64-year-old expat Kiwi, who had been living in Queensland, died at Waikato Hospital on Thursday afternoon, at which time police upgraded their investigation to a homicide.

With heads bowed and fighting back tears, Mr Wilkinson’s wife Luise and daughter Cory Rance stood by as his son Dan spoke of their ‘‘complete devastation’’ yesterday.

‘‘A person unknown to us took our father, husband, grandfather, brother and, worst of all, our mate,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s impossible to express the complete devastation our family is now going through.’’

The family were thankful for the public’s sympathy. Dan Wilkinson said it was most important to find the person responsible for the murder. ‘‘We are desperate to understand who took my dad from us and why.

‘‘Somebody has the answer to my dad’s death.’’

He said his and his sister’s children ‘‘have been robbed of their grandfather’s love’’ and his mum ‘‘has lost the love of her life due to brutal, senseless violence’’.

‘‘My dad was a selfless, honest and humble man who would be horrified at the attention he is receiving now. We owe it to my dad to stop this happening to another family so no-one else has their life ruined like us.’’

Thirty-seven police are working on the investigation and Detective Inspector Chris Page, of Waikato CIB, said they had extended the search area at Waihi Beach as they try to find the weapon.

Police do not yet have a description of the offender.

Many holidaymakers have provided police with photos of New Year celebrations and they are now ‘‘piecing together a jigsaw’’ of what took place.

‘‘We’re the only ones who hold the big picture of what that looks like. Someone out there is holding a tiny piece and may not recognise how important that is to us,’’ Mr Page said.

Waihi Beach Ward councillor Anne Gilmer said most people thought the offender was a visitor to the area, rather than a local.

‘‘It’s a pretty tight community here. I’d be really shocked if it was a local person.’’