Police have arrested a third man after dairy worker Janak Patel was fatally stabbed in a robbery in Sandringham this week.
Patel was stabbed multiple times in the street after following a man who allegedly took the cash register drawer from Rose Cottage Superette in Sandringham on Wednesday night.
On Sunday Police said a 36-year-old man has been charged with robbery. He is scheduled to appear in Auckland District Court on Monday November 28.
The latest arrest comes after a 34-year-old man was taken into custody at a New Lynn address on Friday and charged with both aggravated robbery and Patel's murder.
He appeared in court on Saturday and was granted interim name suppression. He was remanded in custody until his next appearance at the Auckland High Court on December 14.
A 42-year-old man was also charged with robbery after he allegedly took the murder-accused to the dairy and picked him up at the end of the incident.
The 42-year-old appeared in Auckland District Court and was also granted interim name suppression. He was remanded in custody and will appear in the Auckland District Court on Monday.
Police have found and seized the vehicle seen a number of times in the area before the aggravated robbery at the superette took place.
However they are still looking for the knife used to kill Patel, along with the drawer from the till that was stolen, and the clothing worn by the man accused of the murder.
"We would like to thank everyone in our community who has gotten in touch with information to assist our work to hold these offenders to account," Detective Inspector Scott Beard, Auckland City CIB, said in a statement on Sunday.
"If you have information but have not yet been in touch with Police, there are a number of ways you can get in touch with us."
- People with information can contact Police via 105 or online, using 'Update My Report'
- Please quote file number 221123/3847.
- They can also email opbluebell@police.govt.nz
- People can upload photos or video by going to https://bluebell.nc3.govt.nz
- Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111
As of publishing, a Givealittle page set up to support Patel's family has raised just over $59,000. This page was created by the Dairy and Business Owners Group whose chairperson Sunny Kaushal said they are "so thankful" to everyone who has donated.
