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Police have found a knife they believe is the weapon used to kill an Auckland taxi driver.
Hiren Mohini, 39, a driver for Auckland Co-op taxis, was stabbed to death in Auckland in the early hours of Sunday morning after picking a man up in the central city about 1.20am.
Minutes later the taxi crashed into a tree in View Rd in Mt Eden and witnesses arrived to find Mohini suffering horrific wounds to his chest and neck.
The officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Senior Sergeant Hywel Jones, says Mohini died from multiple stab wounds.
"We have recovered a weapon today (Monday). I can confirm that is a knife and that is undergoing forensic tests," Jones says.
"It was a frenzied, brutal, horrific attack."
Jones says officers have also narrowed down the description of the man who was seen running off towards Esplanade Rd shortly after the incident. He is described as a short dark-skinned man, of slim build, with a limp.
Thirty specialist staff and investigators are involved in the search for the killer of the father of two. They are reviewing CCTV security footage.
Investigators are carrying out an area canvas and talking to residents and others in the area where Mohini was killed.
"There are a large number of witnesses to interview not only from the street where the murder happened but also other locations such as the CBD where a male suspect is believed to have hired the cab driven by the deceased," says Jones.
"We are accessing security surveillance footage from a number of locations and working on some strong leads that will assist us to locate the killer."
"This is a complex murder investigation."
"Our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of the deceased and we extend our genuine condolences to all who are close to the late Mr Hiren Mohini," says Jones.
Mohini's family is searching for answers over his killing.
"How could this happen? This was cold blooded. This was a gentle man who never chased a fare, if someone didn't pay he'd come home and say well that's just fate," says family spokesperson Dr Rajen Prasad.
Mohini trained as an accountant and moved to New Zealand from Mumbai with his wife seven years ago.
They have two children aged 5 and 3.
"They don't know their Dad is not coming back," says fellow driver Sam Biswas.
Police are urging anyone with information to call the Operation Edgewater phone number that has been set up to assist the investigation.
The number is 0800 EDGEWATER [0800 444 014]. The Crimestoppers line is an alternative option and is accessible anonymously on 0800 555 111.
