Police seek witnesses to Northland fatal assault

  • 04/01/2016
Lee Rata (Facebook)
Lee Rata (Facebook)

A post-mortem has confirmed a man fatally bashed and left at the side of the road in Northland died from blunt-force trauma.

Lee Rata, 35, was badly injured at the side of a road in Kaitaia when he was found by a member of the public, who flagged a passing police car, at 11pm on New Year's Eve.

He was placed on life support in Whangarei Hospital but died on New Year's Day.

Police say the team investigating the assault has been boosted to 22 staff.

They have executed several search warrants in Kaitaia, and are now working to locate and speak with witnesses. There were a number of people in the area at the time, and a function nearby.

"We have received good assistance from the public, which has helped us in establishing who were present at the function in Bonnett Rd, near where the assault occurred," says Detective Inspector Kevin Burke, Northland district criminal investigations manager. "This includes numerous images of people who were at the function."

Det Insp Burke says police are continuing to identify and speak with function guests and those who were nearby. They are looking to speak with guests who have returned to their homes outside of Northland.

"Our priority is to establish who was responsible for this vicious beating and hold them to account."

Mr Rata has been returned to his family for a tangi in the Far North. He is expected to be buried tomorrow.

Anyone with any information on the assault is asked to contact police on (09) 408 6500 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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