Police at the scene on Darlington Road, Miramar. Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER
Police say they now believe a homicide and an aggravated burglary in the Wellington suburb of Miramar last month are linked.
About 2am on 17 March, police were called to a Darlington Road address after the occupants found an intruder in their home.
A 28-year-old man was arrested and charged with aggravated burglary in relation to this incident.
Twenty minutes later, 63-year-old Abdul Nabizadah was located with serious head injuries at the intersection of Camperdown Road and Totara Road.
He later died in hospital, and a homicide investigation was launched.
Abdulhassan Nabizadah's eldest son John Nabizadah holds a framed portrait of his father. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Detective inspector Nick Pritchard said a large police team were working on parallel investigations into both incidents, and are now treating the cases as being linked.
"We also believe he was the victim of a robbery," Pritchard said.
They were still seeking information from the public which could help identify a pedestrian walking from Camperdown Road into Darlington Road at 12.28am.
This person was wearing a light top and dark pants, and police said they could have crucial information.
"We also continue to seek the driver of a 2006 silver or grey Mazda 6 that was seen driving through the Darlington Road/Camperdown Road intersection several times between 11.50pm Sunday 16 March and 2.17am Monday 17 March."
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