The death of a man found near a property in the Wellington suburb of Northland on Tuesday morning is being treated as a homicide, police have confirmed this afternoon.
Detective Inspector Nick Pritchard today named the victim as 65-year-old Simon Bird.
Bird had not been heard from for several days when a concerned friend made a welfare check and discovered his body at his home on Albemarle Rd, Pritchard told reporters.
Bird was last seen alive in the city centre around 5pm on March 27.
“However, we are continuing to piece together his movements and the events that led to his death.”
A scene examination at the property is ongoing “and is expected to continue for the next couple of days”.
Bird’s silver Honda Odyssey was found at the property and will be forensically examined.
There will be an ongoing police presence in the Northland community over the coming days.
Anyone who knew Bird – or saw him or his vehicle – in the last week has been urged to contact police on 105.
Police would also like to hear from anyone in the area who noticed any suspicious activity or movements in and around Bird’s home.
“What might seem like an insignificant detail to you could be a missing piece of the jigsaw puzzle for us.”
Pritchard reassured the community that another homicide investigation into the death of a man in Miramar is “not related”.
Abdul Nabizadah, 63, died in hospital after being found injured on the street in the early hours of March 17.
Police yesterday said they believe there is a link between his death and an intruder being disturbed at a nearby home 20 minutes earlier.
A 28-year-old man appeared in court last Thursday charged with aggravated burglary and aggravated injury over the incident at the home.
“We have investigation teams working long hours, working really hard to try and find the answers that we’re needing in all of these matters.”
Police are also investigating a suspected murder-suicide in Roseneath.
