Thee charged with Bay man's murder

Police have charged two unemployed Tauranga men and another from Auckland with the murder of local man Gary Kimura, who was attacked at his home last year.

Tauranga Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Turner said the charges related to a serious assault on 44-year-old Gary Clayton Kimura at his Margaret Rd home on October 5, and his subsequent death in Tauranga Hospital on November 16.

Mr Kimura, who was initially admitted to Tauranga Hospital, was airlifted to Waikato Hospital on the night of the attack, with a life-threatening head injury.

He remained in a coma for several weeks, but was then transferred back to Tauranga Hospital on November 9 and succumbed to his injuries. He died on his 44th birthday.

Mr Turner said a fourth man, also from Tauranga, had been charged with being an accessory after the fact to the assault on Mr Kimura. He said all four men would appear in Tauranga District Court on Tuesday.

Mr Turner said he would not comment further on the case as the matter was now before the courts.

Mr Kimura, married with six children, ran Gary's Tyres in Sulphur Point for about 15 years.