Security guard Ramandeep Singh was killed in the Royal Reserve car park in West Auckland just before Christmas last year.
Singh, a 25-year-old Armourguard patrolman, was the victim of a homicide, leading to the arrest of a teenager and a man in his 20s charged with his murder.
The investigation, dubbed Operation Pelorus, has taken a troubling turn as the family of a witness received images of Singh’s body. These images were part of the evidence disclosed to the defense lawyers of the accused, as per standard legal procedures, but were shockingly sent to the witness’s family by individuals linked to one of the defendants.
The incident has caused significant distress to the family, who were shocked and disturbed by receiving such graphic material.
Disclosure of evidence is a crucial aspect of criminal trials, ensuring fairness and transparency. However, the misuse of disclosed materials in this case has raised concerns.
Police are aware of the situation and confirmed that the material was indeed part of the disclosure provided to the defense counsel of the accused.
Detective Inspector Callum McNeill of the Waitematā CIB told state-subsidised legacy media outlet NZ Herald that disclosure was important in preventing miscarriages of justice and noted that recent changes have been made to the rules to ensure evidence is provided to lawyers earlier in the trial process.
The two accused currently have name suppression, and there is no indication that the shared materials have been posted on public platforms like social media. The legal representatives of the accused have been notified, and appropriate actions are being taken.
Singh, an only child, moved to New Zealand from India in 2018 for higher education.
