Dairy owners to protest over stabbing
Police call for information after man’s death
Apost-mortem examination was carried out yesterday on an Auckland stabbing victim as dairy owners planned a nationwide protest.
Janak Patel, 34, was fatally stabbed when he confronted a robber outside the Sandringham store he was working in on Wednesday night He had been working at the Rose Cottage Superette in Sandringham.
Patel, who friends describe as polite and friendly, had moved to Auckland from Hamilton only last week to look after the dairy while the owners were overseas.
Police say the newly married man was stabbed several times 100m from the store after he confronted a thief who had stolen the cash register around 8pm on Wednesday.
Patel managed to make it back to the dairy, where emergency services were called, but died from his injuries.
Detective Inspector Scott Beard, of Auckland City CIB, who is heading the inquiry, has repeated his call for anyone who witnessed the altercation, or believe they saw the offender on foot, before or after the incident, to come forward and talk to police.
“We also continue to appeal to those in the community who know who the offender is, to do the right thing and contact us,” Beard said.
Meanwhile, dairy owners have announced they will hold a nationwide protest in response to Patel’s death . They say more needs to be done to protect workers.
Dairy and Business Owners Group chairman Sunny Kaushal said the protest would be held once Patel’s funeral has been held.
Kaushal said New Zealand’s small businesses want action, rather than empathy, from the Government.
However, the initial priority will be to assist Patel’s family with funeral arrangements.
A post-mortem examination was being done yesterday, police said.
Beard said police also wanted to acknowledge residents living within the cordon and the surrounding areas and thank them for their co-operation after Wednesday night’s tragedy.
He also thanked those who had already provided information.
Cordons remained in place and were expected to be lifted late yesterday or today.
Police have set up an online portal for people to upload any film
footage captured around the time of the tragedy.
They can also be contacted via 105 quoting file number 221123/3847.
People who are able to help can also provide information anonymously to the police via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Fund to help family
Auckland businesses are raising money to support the family of Janak Patel after his “senseless killing” this week.
A Givealittle page has been created by the Dairy and Business
Owners Group to provide financial support for Patel’s elderly parents after he was fatally stabbed in Sandringham on Wednesday evening.
“This could be any small familyrun business,” the group wrote. “But it has left a law-abiding
shopworker that had so much promise dead.
“Above all, it has cost a family a cherished loved one.”
The Rose Cottage Superette was lined with flower bouquets yesterday as members of the community paid their respects. A candlelight
vigil held on Thursday night attracted a crowd of 200, with another scheduled for this evening.
The Dairy and Business Owners Group said it planned to liaise with the Patel family to ensure they were supported.