-
Related
Another four men were in court on Friday to face a number of charges related to the aggravated robbery of Riverton Liquor Store and the death of Navtej Singh, bringing a total of seven now facing charges.
The police are not looking for any other offenders but have not ruled out there could be more who helped dispose of evidence and cover up the crime.
The four in court on Friday were 19-year-old Jason Naseri and 20-year-old Myron Felise, who are both charged with murder and aggravated robbery.
Their lawyer had originally sought name suppression, saying Felise had a sick relative who would not take the news very well, and Naseri saying he had not had time to tell his mum.
But the Manukau District Court judge refused their suppression request.
Myron Felise is the 20-year-old brother of Tino Felise who appeared in court on Thursday also charged with Singh's murder.
The other two were 23-year-old Eti Filoa who is accused of armed robbery, as is a 19-year-old from Mangere, who has name suppression.
Police say they are now satisfied they have got everyone involved in the robbery.
Singh, a 30-year-old father of three was shot in the chest with a .22 rifle during the robbery on Saturday and died on Monday in hospital.
Charges range from murder, armed robbery as a party, aggravated robbery and related firearms offences.
The family of Sikh store owner on Friday spoke of their relief at the arrests as they attended the funeral of Navtej's granddad, who supposedly died of shock after hearing that Navtej was killed.
Manpreet Singh, the family spokesman, said the police investigation team had done a good job and hoped the killers get tough sentences.
On Thursday, police had made three arrests. Seventeen-year-old Tino Felise and 20-year-old Anitelea Chan Kee both face charges of murder, aggravated robbery and a firearms charge.
They have been remanded in custody for a pre-depositions hearing in August.
The third man charged in relation to the shooting is 24-year-old Mefiposeta Chan Kee, the brother of Anitelea Chan Kee. He is charged with accessory to murder as well as disposing of evidence.
Meanwhile, police have located a white Mitsubishi Challenger they had been seeking related to the investigation, as well as a black Mazda Astina hatchback.
"We want to hear from those who know the persons arrested and who will have spoken with them since the robbery and shooting. It is clear that a number of people have been told of what they did either by them or through others" says Detective Inspector Jim Gallagher.
Gallagher says police will also keep searching for rifle parts, some of which were located in mangroves near the Tamaki Estuary in Otahuhu.
Police have recovered the stolen cash register but have not located the phone cards.
The phone cards are believed to have been dumped near the old Homai railway station by Dalgety Drive, Manurewa.
All seven charged in relation to the robbery are due back in court in August.
Meanwhile offers of help are flooding in for Marjinder Kaur, Navtej's widow; a trust fund is expected to raise $50,000 in the next few days.
Navtej's five-year-old daughter has only just realised her father is dead, after seeing him lying in state, before his funeral on Thursday.
Family members said the little girl wept after she saw her mother and the rest of the congregation weeping and wondered why her father was not talking to her.
A team of 20 detectives will remain on the case, the focus now for police is to gather evidence to make a case against the seven accused.
In latest news, on Friday night Manurewa locals held a neighbourhood rally in support of the slain owner's family, holding out buckets for donations which will be handed over to the trust fund.
They plan to end the rally with a moment of silence in respect of Navtej Singh.
People with information are urged to call Operation Riverton on 0508 Riverton - 0508 748 378.
Those wishing to make a contribution to Singh's widow
and family can do so by making a deposit at BNZ:
Account name: Navtej Fundraising
Account number: 02-0240-0022348-003
