Murder charge

An 18-year-old who allegedly stabbed a man multiple times as he walked his dog now faces a murder charge. The man died after being rushed to Christchurch Hospital with critical injuries, following the incident on November 14 at Bexley Reserve. The Herald understands the victim, who has interim name suppression, was walking his dog in Bexley Reserve when he had a brief exchange of words with a motorist about their driving in the reserve. Bailey Messervy, 18, earlier appeared in court charged with allegedly wounding the man with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. The charge has since been upgraded to a murder.