Wellsford homicide: man charged with Zane Smith murder

A 45-year-old man has been charged with murder in connection with a fatal shooting in Wellsford.

Desmond Bourne was found by police on Thursday, unconscious, at an address in central Auckland.

On Friday morning, a police spokeswoman confirmed that Bourne had been charged with murder and would appear in North Shore District Court later that day.

Bourne and Serene Tilsley, 21, were wanted after Zane Smith, 37, was found dead in his car on Wayby Station Rd in Wellsford, north of Auckland, with a gunshot wound on Saturday.

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Tilsley appeared in court Thursday, charged with being an accessory to the murder, and was granted bail.

Detective Inspector Scott Beard said police would like to thank the community for their help and the reported public sightings of the alleged offender.

Beard said that since Smith’s death, a team of detectives had been “working around the clock.”

“We continue to support Mr. Smith’s family at this difficult time,” he said.

Smith and Bourne were believed to know each other, Beard said, and the murder is not treated as a random attack.

Smith has been remembered by his friends as an “amazing person” who was an incredibly loyal friend.

Although Bourne and Tilsley had been charged, Beard said police are still appealing sightings of a black Ford Falcon saloon with registration CTS862, which has been linked to the incident and was seen in Pakuranga on Sunday morning.

Police also want to find the firearm that was used in the incident, which is believed to be a rifle.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the two elements is urged to contact the Waitematā Crime Squad on 09 839 0697.

They can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555111.