stabbed to death

Hiko Lynch, 23, was stabbed with a 24-centimetre knife, thrust upwards into his abdomen, which pierced his heart. He collapsed onto the ground where he died, in the early hours of June 20 last year.

The details of that night recorded by police have been released publicly for the first time as the gang member, Auckland man George Junior Pikaahu, 34, originally charged with murder, admitted a charge of manslaughter for his part in Lynch’s death.

A cousin has identified the victim as Hiko Lynch. He was one of a group of Tongan Recognised Seasonal Employer workers who worked for Hortus in Blenheim.

Police were called to a disorder incident on Market St at about 2:55am, one person died at the scene according to a report on Kaniva News.

Two people were also seriously injured and taken to hospital where they remain in a serious condition, Marlborough Area Commander Inspector Simon Feltham said.

Tevita Halalima Hafoka of Kolofo’ou was 25 years old when he killed Sioeli Finau during a fight in Nuku’alofa on July 11, 2015.

Kaniva News reports on the night of the incident, Hafoka had gone out to a bar with his wife and her sister.

They left the bar when it closed at 11.30pm to go to the town square.

Finau was at a coffee shop nearby with some friends.

The court heard, the deceased, who was intoxicated, then approached Hafoka’s wife and asked her to have sex with him.

The woman swore at Finau and he slapped her.