Police in Auckland have been searching for the person responsible for the brutal killing of a man in his home, as well as his missing wife. The search ended tragically with the discovery of the woman’s body in a different suburb. A man has been charged with the murders and appeared in court. The police have appealed for assistance in locating the missing woman and their car. The investigation is ongoing. Stuff reported
The Auckland police have had a busy week, as they have been searching for the individuals responsible for the brutal killing of a man in his Ellerslie home. They have also been trying to locate the missing wife of the deceased. Unfortunately, their search for the wife ended tragically on Friday morning when a woman’s body was discovered in the Greenhithe suburb of North Shore. On Friday afternoon, a man appeared in court, charged with the murders of the man and his wife. The man’s death was initially treated as unexplained, but a post-mortem later confirmed that he had died from violent injuries. The police have expressed grave concerns for the safety and wellbeing of the missing wife and have appealed to the public for assistance in locating her. The investigation into the murders is ongoing, and the police have not ruled out further charges..
The Auckland police have had an incredibly busy and demanding week as they have been tirelessly searching for the individuals responsible for the brutal killing of a man in his Ellerslie home. In addition to this, they have also been on the lookout for any signs of his missing wife. Tragically, one of their searches came to a devastating end on Friday morning when a woman’s body was discovered in the North Shore suburb of Greenhithe.
On Friday afternoon, a man, whose name is currently suppressed, appeared in court and was charged with the murders of Fuk-Fu Joseph Kwok and his wife, Mei Han Chong. The events leading up to this arrest began on Monday when Kwok, aged 66, was found dead at his home on Celtic Crescent in Ellerslie. Police initially treated his death as unexplained but later launched a homicide investigation after a post-mortem revealed his injuries were violent and consistent with foul play.
The following day, Detective Inspector Scott Beard appealed to the public for any sightings of the couple’s blue Kia Rio, which was last seen at the property. Chong, aged 67, was also reported missing. The police initially kept an open mind regarding Chong, not ruling her out as a suspect in her husband’s killing. They also explored the possibility that she had left the country. Beard stated, “She could be a suspect, or she could be a victim.”
As the investigation continued, it was discovered that Kwok had died from multiple stab wounds in a targeted and brutal attack. Beard emphasized that the motive and those involved were still unknown. The police released the first photo of Chong and expressed “grave concerns for her safety and wellbeing,” believing that she had also fallen victim to foul play.
Throughout the week, the police worked diligently, reviewing hours of CCTV footage and conducting a complex scene investigation at Kwok and Chong’s property. Their efforts paid off when Chong’s body was located in Greenhithe, and the Kia Rio was found parked outside an unrelated address in Glenfield. A 42-year-old man was subsequently arrested in Hamilton and charged with two counts of murder. The police have not ruled out the possibility of further charges.
The news of Kwok’s death deeply impacted his friends and colleagues, with one describing him as a “gentle, nice guy” who was hardworking and excellent in a crisis. The community mourned the loss of Kwok, especially at North Shore Hospital, where he worked as a registered nurse. Te Whatu Ora released a statement expressing their grief and acknowledging his exceptional service.
The accused, a 42-year-old North Shore man, was granted interim name suppression by Judge Andrea Manuel. His lawyer explained that his elderly mother and family were unaware of the charges and that it would come as a shock to them. The man was remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear at the High Court in November.
Overall, the Auckland police have faced a challenging and emotionally draining week as they have worked tirelessly to bring justice to the victims and their families..