Wellington homicide: 5th arrest for Rau Tongia’s death at his Karori home

A fifth person has been arrested in connection with the death of Rau Tongia at his home in Wellington.

A 27-year-old woman is now facing one charge of injuring Tongia with the intent to cause serious bodily harm and be part of her murder, police said today.

He was due to appear in the Wellington District Court this morning.

Tongia, 33, was found dead in his Karori home on December 20.

The investigation into Tongia’s death continues, police said.

The woman is now the fifth person charged in connection with the homicide.

Three days ago, a 19-year-old man was charged with being an accessory to murder.

Two women have been accused of murdering Tongia, one 35 and the other 24.

A 20-year-old woman, who is accused of being an accessory to Tongia’s murder on December 20, smiled and mouthed words to her supporters while on the dock in Wellington District Court on January 21.

Court documents allege that the 20-year-old “actively suppressed the evidence” by hiding a firearm on an associate’s property to help someone avoid a conviction.

Police revealed in January that they had found a firearm during a search in Wilton that they believed was related to Tongia’s death.

He’s being forensically analyzed.