Latest news with #KyleWhorrall
1News
14-05-2025
- 1News
Teen denies murdering Kyle Whorrall at Auckland bus stop
The 16-year-old accused of murdering American PhD student Kyle Whorrall at a bus stop in Auckland's St Johns has pleaded not guilty. He also denied a charge of aggravated robbery. A 32-year-old woman who's also been charged in relation to Whorrall's death, charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder, also pleaded not guilty. Both keep interim name suppression for now. They've been remanded in custody to reappear in the High Court in Auckland for a case review hearing on July 16. A trial date has been set down for August 2026. Whorrall was attacked at a bus stop on St Johns Rd in Meadowbank on April 19, and died from his injuries in hospital. The 33-year-old was in New Zealand pursuing his PhD in entomology at the University of Auckland. New ZealandCrime and JusticeAuckland More Stories
RNZ News
13-05-2025
- RNZ News
Teen charged with murder of Kyle Whorrall at Auckland bus stop pleads not guilty
Kyle Whorrall. Photo: SUPPLIED A teenage boy charged with the murder of American PhD student Kyle Whorrall has pleaded not guitly and will go to trial next year. The 16-year-old reappeared at the High Court in Auckland on Wednesday charged with murder and aggravated robbery, after Whorrall was fatally injured at a bus stop in Meadowbank last month. His trial has been set to begin on the 31st of August, 2026. A 32-year-old woman charged as an accessory after the fact to murder also appeared. The woman indicated she would seek bail but did not make an application. She has been remanded in custody and the boy has been remanded in a youth justice facility. They will next appear for a case review hearing in July. Family and friends gathered in Auckland on 5 May to plant a tree in memory of Whorrall, who was a PhD student of entomology at the University of Auckland. His mother Carole Whorrall, visiting from the United States, joined his friends and flatmates to plant the pohutukawa, after a short ceremony organised by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
05-05-2025
- RNZ News
Midday Report Essentials for Monday 5 May 2025
sport life and society 22 minutes ago In today's episode, Police believe a shooting in Gisborne on Saturday night was gang-related, nearly 300 people are still without power across the capital, a small ceremony has taken place in the Auckland suburb of Meadowbank to remember murdered PhD student, Kyle Whorrall, and New Zealand Formula 1 driver Liam Lawson was forced to retire during the Miami Grand Prix.
NZ Herald
05-05-2025
- NZ Herald
A memorial tree has been planted for slain American entomology student Kyle Whorrall.
A memorial tree has been planted at the entrance of St John's bush in honour of slain American entomology student Kyle Whorrall. Video \ Jason Dorday
1News
04-05-2025
- 1News
'He will always be a part of NZ' - Community mourns murdered US student Kyle Whorrall
More than 60 people gathered at a memorial and fundraising event today for American PhD student Kyle Whorrall, who was fatally attacked at an Auckland bus stop last month. Whorrall, 33, was attacked at a bus stop on St Johns Rd in Meadowbank on April 19, and died from his injuries in hospital. A 16-year-old youth has been charged with murder and aggravated robbery, and a 32 year-old woman has been charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder. Dozens of members of the community, local businesses, Whorrall's friends and his mother Carole Whorrall attended the event at a local restaurant, which was organised to celebrate the 'essence' of Whorrall and to provide support to his family. A letter penned by Whorrall's sister Heather was read out in a speech at the event. ADVERTISEMENT Her letter said Whorrall was born and raised in California, and shortly after he learned to walk, he had started exploring the outdoors, and was always looking for bugs and turning stones. When Whorrall was 13 years old, he went on a month-long trip to Australasia with his mother and two sisters, and visited Australia, New Zealand and Fiji for the first time. He was the youngest member of an entomology club, a student volunteer at the Los Angeles Zoo and volunteered for Jane Goodall's Roots and Shoots NGO. During his studies, he travelled to Peru for a few weeks to collect spiders, six of which were newly-discovered species. Whorrall loved the flora and fauna of New Zealand, and at the time of his death was three months away from submitting his PhD thesis. He was a passionate, intelligent and caring person, his sister said. "He will always be a part of New Zealand." The Meadow restaurant was decorated with many pictures and artwork of bugs made by children from local schools, in memory of Whorrall. ADVERTISEMENT Pictures and artwork of bugs made by children from local schools on display at the memorial for murdered US student Kyle Whorrall. (Source: RNZ / Lucy Xia) Gina Henry, who owns the restaurant and helped organise the event, said she wanted to do something for Whorrall's family in these hard times. "He was just a part of our community, he was a beautiful man, and he shouldn't go home the way he's going home tomorrow - he should be going home as a PhD student, graduating in a few months," she said. Henry said she posted to Facebook to reach out to the community to brainstorm, and people thought a "silent auction" would be a great way to support the family with the costs of the funeral and their travels. Henry said nearly 40 businesses had contributed gifts and vouchers to the fundraiser. "Everything from bottles of wine, to olive oil, to beauty vouchers, everybody's just really come to the party, and just wants to be part of something bigger, I think that's the whole reason why we're here is just we're something bigger, we're a community of people that just want to reach out," she said. Meadow restaurant owner Gina Henry at the memorial for murdered US student Kyle Whorrall. (Source: RNZ / Lucy Xia ) ADVERTISEMENT Deputy mayor Desley Simpson also attended the event and offered condolences to Whorrall's mother. In a speech, Simpson said she wanted the family to leave New Zealand knowing that the community has reached out with love and support.
