The man charged with murdering a man in Mount Albert last week is "acutely unwell" and did not appear in court on Monday.
Aucklander Thomas Coombes, 25, was found dead in Roy Clements Treeways in Mount Albert on Tuesday.
Police believe a knife was used in the "brutal attack" where Coombes sustained multiple injuries.
Police were making enquiries in the Sandringham area on Saturday afternoon and located the accused on Ti Kouka Lane, where he was taken into custody without issue.
The accused was due to appear in Auckland District Court at 10am on Monday but was excused by the judge Nevin Dawson.
His lawyer Raewyn McCausland said the defendant was "acutely unwell" and asked for his attendance to be excused and remanded without plea.
McCausland also asked for name suppression because of the man's health. Judge Dawson granted him name suppression until his appearance in the High Court in June.
A Givealittle page has been set up by a friend of Coombes, with over $4000 raised so far.
The money will go towards paying off his student loan and creating a memorial, with anything leftover being used to pay for his funeral.
The Givealittle page said Coombes touched everyone with his "pure heart and gentle nature".
"We are all shocked and many of us don't know what to do.… we thought it was best to reach out for your help and support for Toms's family during this unbelievably difficult time," the Givealittle page says.
"His student loan needs to be paid off and Tom is the type of guy who would want loose ends tied up."
The family of Coombes released a statement on Sunday saying he was living a "happy and beautiful life" when it was "taken from him".
"He was walking home from uni where he was studying photography - following his passion after becoming a qualified builder," they said.
"He was a keen sportsman, with a genuine interest in and love for his family and many friends.
"His life was taken from him, and from all of us who love him, in a cruel act of violence."
