31 Dec 2014

Charges laid over motel death

4:43 pm on 31 December 2014

Two people who were being sought in relation to the fatal assault on a man in an Auckland motel unit have been arrested after turning themselves in this afternoon.

Detective Inspector Scott Beard holds photographs of the wanted teenagers.

Detective Inspector Scott Beard holds photographs of the teenagers during a police press conference. Photo: RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson

Ihaia Gillman-Harris, 54, died in Auckland Hospital just hours after he was found injured in his Epsom motel room on Saturday.

Ihaia Gillman-Harris.

Ihaia Gillman-Harris Photo: SUPPLIED / NZ Police

A post-mortem confirmed he died of blunt force trauma to the head.

Earlier today, police revealed they were looking for Beauen Wallace-Loretz and Leonard Nattrass-Burquist, who are both 17.

They said the pair had come forward and had been arrested and charged with murder.

They will appear in the Auckland District Court on Friday.

Detective Inspector Scott Beard said police wanted to thank the public for their assistance.

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