26 Mar 2024

Police still looking for dozens of witnesses to deadly Gisborne brawl

6:14 pm on 26 March 2024
The scene of the 100-plux person brawl in Gisborne.

The scene of the 100-plux person brawl in Gisborne. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver

Three men taken to Gisborne Hospital after a 100-person brawl at a 21st turned deadly remain in a stable condition.

Police say they are not ruling out further arrests or charges since they are still in the early stages of their investigation.

The brawl broke out after two uninvited guests arrived at the party, police earlier said.

Two men - Chrysler Stevens Mark and Kane Taare-Gray - died in the fight.

The bodies of the men have been transported to Palmerston North Hospital.

Te Whatu Ora MidCentral said they were brought in on Monday, and were in police custody at its morgue.

The tangi for Kane Taare-Gray will be held at Hauiti Marae in Tolaga Bay, with the burial expected to be on Friday.

The scene examination on Lytton Road appeared to be winding down on Tuesday, with the size of the police cordon shrinking to just the property where the party was held.

Forensic teams were back on the ground again, combing the street for evidence.

On Monday, forensic teams were seen swabbing cars and entering different properties.

Forensic scene examiners at the scene of a brawl in Gisborne, which led to the death of two.

Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver

Police said they had identified 40 witnesses in their investigation, which they have described as complex, and wanted to identify another 60.

They wanted to interview everyone at the party, and were requesting any videos, photos and information from the night to help with their investigation.

One of the men in hospital was one of the uninvited guests, while the second gatecrasher was a 29-year-old man who was arrested and currently remanded in custody.

Police were at Gisborne Hospital, but it remained open to patients and visitors.

A high police presence would remain in Gisborne this week, including over Easter.

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