Charges laid over ‘random, tragic’ murder of Australian man Sean McKinnon in New Zealand
A man accused of the brutal killing of Victorian surfer Sean McKinnon has appeared in a New Zealand court, as the victim’s family watched on.
The man accused of murdering Australian tourist Sean McKinnon has been remanded in custody.
Judge Noel Cocurullo granted a suppression order on his name and identifying details until his next court appearance on August 27.
The heavily tattooed defendant, 23, sat in court with his face hidden during the short proceeding.
Two of Mr McKinnon’s sisters, and his brother, watched from the rear of the court.
Armed police last night surrounded a house in Tahei, in the Waikato District, where the accused was arrested.
The accused fronted Hamilton District Court charged with murder and a number of other offences including threatening to kill, robbery and causing grievous bodily harm, New Zealand Police said. He was also driving on a disqualified license.
Victorian tourist Mr McKinnon, 33, and his Canadian fiancee Bianca Buckley, 32, were sleeping in a campervan in the North Island town of Raglan when the gunman allegedly fired a number of shots into the vehicle after 2am yesterday.
“I know this has been a shocking event for the community,” Detective Inspective Graham Pitkethley said, according to the New Zealand Herald.
“This has shocked and touched a number of people in the community and the inquiry team as well.”
He described the murder as a “random, tragic event”.
Mr McKinnon from Nirranda, near Port Campbell in southwest Victoria, was killed at the secluded North Island surfing spot, which forced his terrified fiancee to run for her life.
“She is obviously shocked and traumatised,” Detective Inspector Graham Pitkethley told reporters today.
“She is thankful that an arrest within a 24-hour period has occurred and we’re working with her and her family, and we’ll continue to be in touch with her around her welfare.” He said witnesses came to police with information.
Det Insp Pitkethley said police weren’t looking for anyone else in relation to the attack.
“This has shocked and touched a number of people in the community and the inquiry team as well. It is a random violent attack that has occurred.
“But I’d just like to reassure the community. The dedication of the community and the police working together to be able to hold this offender to account in such a quick time.”
In New Zealand, the first appearance of a defendant charged with murder is in the District Court. The alleged killer’s next appearance will be in the High Court.
Mr McKinnon’s body was found inside a 2017 Toyota Hiace rental van, dumped a 75-minute drive away in Gordonton about five hours later.
The man smashed his way into the van about 3am on Friday morning at a car park in the Te Toto Gorge near Raglan.
The pair were asleep in their rental caravan at the Te Toto Gorge car park in Raglan when they were woken by an “erratic” stranger banging on their window.
The man asked for help then demanded the keys to their caravan before he shot the young carpenter and musician.
Ms Buckley somehow managed to escape the van and ran two kilometres through the bush bare foot in darkness to a house where she called the police.
‘YOU CAN’T UNDERSTAND MURDER’
Mr McKinnon’s heartbroken family described him as a “loveable, knockabout” surfie and said they are living their “worst nightmare”.
Mr McKinnon’s sister, Emmeline, 39, told News Corp Australia his final moments would have been “terrifying.”
“I feel sheer helplessness. As an older sister I wish I could have been there to defend and protect him,” she said.
“It’s a horrible thought to know he was alone when he died.”
Mr McKinnon’s family, including mother Rhonda, brother and four sisters last night flew to New Zealand to aid in the police manhunt and bring his body home.
“It’s a tragedy we have to carry with us the rest of our lives,” his sister said.
“You can understand tragic accidents but you can’t understand murder.”
Mr McKinnon was a world adventurer who lived for surfing, his friends and family. His favourite holiday spot was South America. It was here he met Ms Buckley, during a surf trip.
The pair were madly in love but an ocean separated them.
Mr McKinnon worked as a carpenter in Tasmania and often worked on remote gas pipelines.
Every spare moment he would travel to New Zealand to be with his fiancee, a local midwife.
Adventure, nature and surf was a big part of their lives.
But so were their careers.
The pair were planning to buy land in New Zealand or Australia before settling down to marry.
“They were waiting for the timing to be right,” said his sister.
“They both had careers and wanted to buy land and work our where they would settle down before they got married.
“They thought either New Zealand or Australia, Sean was keen on Tasmania.”
The Great Ocean Road was one of his favourite surf spots in Victoria.
His sister said no one in the world was as special as him.
“He did everything with a smile,” she said.
“He was devastatingly handsome and a caring, sensitive young man, even as a boy.
“He would always tell you he loved you and would give you a hug.
“He had a great sense of humour.”
Mr McKinnon is survived by his four sisters, brother and mother Rhonda.
His sister said she wanted his killer to know he had devastated their lives forever.
“You took away someone deeply loved and treasured,” she said.
“Right now we are being patient and waiting to see what happens with police in terms of arresting someone.”
“When you’re from a big family, it’s your greatest fear to lose a brother or sister,” said Ms McKinnon.
It is understood Mr McKinnon had travelled to New Zealand to be with his fiancee about a fortnight earlier.
His sister spoke to Ms Buckley on the phone earlier on Friday. “She is going as well as can be expected,” she said.
Mr McKinnon was in a band in his hometown, which was called Troubled Minds.
Friend Julian Smith said Mr McKinnon was a “loveable, knockabout Aussie guy” who loved his surfing.
“He loved to surf big waves down the coast. He charged five-metre waves,” Mr Smith said.
Locals from Port Campbell, on the Great Ocean Road, said they were struggling to come to terms with his death as news broke across the tight-knit community.
The 33-year-old was often spotted surfing at the popular tourist spot and at nearby beaches.
“It’s such a shame his life has been cut short like this,” one woman said.
Corangamite shire councillor Simon Illingworth told regional paper The Standard that the Port Campbell community was shocked and saddened by the musician’s death.
“Seanny Mac was always a legend. He would do somersaults off the Port Campbell pier with the kids. He always had time for everyone,” he said.
“He was just a lovely bloke, liked to joke around and the kids that knew him will be absolutely devastated,” he said.
‘VERY SHOCKED AND DISTRESSED’
Yesterday, Det Insp Pitkethley said police were supporting Mr McKinnon’s partner. “We are supporting the female victim, who is understandably very shocked and distressed, providing her with the support and welfare that she needs,” he said.
“This is a tragic incident. Inquiries are telling us that this was a random attack.
“It is understandable and concerning to have an armed offender outstanding, but I want to reassure the public that we are working hard to identify and locate the offender.
“It is our absolute priority.”
Mr McKinnon and his fiancee got engaged on Christmas Day in 2017. Ms Buckley had been working as a midwife at Counties Manukau Health since January after studying at the University of Queensland and McGill University.
Social media posts show her surfing with friends in Piha, a seaside village west of Auckland.
Other pictures show her hiking with friends at Te Henga Walkway, about 180km north from where the shooting took place.
A post published on her Facebook on July 15 reads: “We must travel in the direction of our fear.”
MASSIVE MANHUNT FOR KILLER
Det Insp Pitkethley confirmed armed police were involved in the manhunt. “In light of the current circumstances, a general arming order for police staff is in place this afternoon for the entire Waikato District and will be reassessed later today,” Pitkethley told media yesterday.
“We ask that the public stays alert and reports any suspicious activity to police immediately.”
Hamilton police were earlier spotted firing multiple shots at a green hatchback in the carpark at the Gallagher Hockey Turf, a 20 minute drive from where the campervan was found.
Inspector Pitkethley said this was an “unrelated pre-planned operation”.
Waikato Police revealed on Facebook that they responded to a serious incident in Raglan at 3.20am Friday.
“Police have located a van that was earlier stolen and found a body of a man inside,” the statement reads.
“The vehicle was found on Gordonton Rd.”
Originally published as Charges laid over ‘random, tragic’ murder of Australian man Sean McKinnon in New Zealand
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