Police are investigating a homicide after a post-mortem revealed that the taxi driver who crashed his car in the Auckland suburb of Mt Eden early on Sunday morning died of stab wounds.
Hiren Mohini, 39, from Mount Roskill, crashed his Auckland Co-op taxi in View Road at 1.23am.
Detective Senior Sergeant Hywel Jones says a post-mortem showed Mr Mohini was stabbed in his upper torso, but police have yet to determine what type of weapon was used in the attack.
On impact, an emergency device activated and other drivers came to his aid. They and local residents pulled Mr Mohini from the car and tried to help him but he died at the scene.
Police seek young man
Police talked to witnesses on Sunday and say the taxi is at Auckland police station waiting further forensic examination.
Police want to talk to anyone who saw a man running in the direction of Esplanade Road at about the time of the crash.
Police believe this man hired the taxi at about 1.20am in the Auckland CBD.
The man is described as dark skinned, in his mid to late twenties of slim build and about 175cm tall.
He had long greasy hair, in a wavy, curly style.
The man was wearing a long sleeved button up shirt, dark coloured jeans and black leather shoes and was carrying a black bag with a strap.
Colleagues shocked
Auckland Co-op Taxis general manager, Ian Graham, is describing the incident as a brutal, senseless act of violence.
Mr Graham says Mr Mohini has two children aged five and two.
He says he had been with the company for three years and was well-liked.
A friend and colleague of Mr Mohini, Satish Chopra, says he was unlucky to have picked up the wrong person in the early hours of Sunday morning.
He says Mr Mohini had been working very hard recently to save money to buy a house.
