One of the two men accused of murdering security guard Ramandeep Singh in West Auckland last year has pleaded not guilty to the crime.
The 27-year-old appeared in the High Court and has secured a name suppression. Another accused, a 17-year-old who attended the hearing via e-conferencing from a youth justice facility, has yet to file a plea.
Singh worked was an Armourguard patrolman, and he was found dead at a car park in Massey on December 18, with stab wounds.
During the hearing at High Court, the 27-year-old accused appeared in person in the dock. Several of his family members sitting in the public gallery called out “I love you” when the hearing ended.
Police say a group of people indulging in prohibited activity at the park stabbed Singh to death when he objected to their behaviour. Police say they are on the lookout for more accused.
Justice Downs set a trial date of June 23 next year for three weeks, saying the age of the younger defendant meant a prompt trial was important.
Both the accused retained interim name suppression ahead of their next hearing for case review, on April 17.
Back in his hometown of Kotli Shahpur, his mother still recalls her last conversation with her only son.
“He would tell me not to worry about him…and that he is doing fine.” Ramadeep Singh’s mother is inconsolable as she tries to make sense of the tragedy.
“I used to talk to him every day. He used to tell me don’t worry about me, I am fine. It was only on Saturday that I didn’t speak to him,” she told journalists.
A security patrolman working with Armourguard, Ramandeep came to New Zealand about five-and-a-half years ago.
Her mother said she got to know of his death through his friend.
“He was such a good boy...a good son...why would somebody do this to him. He had no enemies. I want justice for him and want the culprits to get punished.”
Armourguard's general manager Shane O’Halloran earlier expressed profound sorrow as he confirmed that the victim was a valued staff member employed through a contractor.
In a post on social media, Armourguard said its community “has been shattered” by the sudden loss of Singh, who leaves behind a broken family and friends in mourning.
“For his parents, he wasn’t just a son; he was their only son, the pride of their lives.
“His death serves as a reminder of the risks our security personnel face every day when they go to work.”
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