Queenstown death suspicious - police

Southland Times

POLICE INVESTIGATE: Police cordoned off an area of Camp St, in Queenstown, last night after a man died at the scene.

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LATEST: Police have begun a homicide investigation after a death in central Queenstown last night.

Senior Sergeant John Fookes of Queenstown police said they were called to a taxi stand around 11.30pm last night after a receiving a report of a middle-aged Caucasian man lying unconscious in the street.

"In spite of attempts by police, members of the public and ambulance staff the man could not be resuscitated and died at the scene," he said in a statement.

The victim is understood to have been involved in some type of altercation in the centre of town overnight.

Police were initally investigating an assault, however the investigation was upgraded to a homicide probe.

A 35-year-old man has been arrested and charged with assault. He will appear in the Queenstown District Court today.

The victim is yet to be identified.

Part of Camp Street between Ballarat and Church Sts, where the man was found, is closed and likely to remain so for most of the day as police carry out their investigation, police said.

- NZPA