Latest news with #Whorrall
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
NZ Herald
13-05-2025
- NZ Herald
St Johns Rd homicide: Not guilty plea entered for 16yo accused of murdering Kyle Whorrall at Auckland bus stop
She also entered a not guilty plea through her lawyer. Justice Lang ordered a four-week trial to commence on August 31 next year. He approved a request by defence lawyer Paul Borich KC for interim name suppression to continue until at least the teen's next court appearance in July. Police say two occupants of the erratically-driven vehicle attacked Whorrall while he was sitting alone at a bus stop in Meadowbank on the night of April 22. Whorrall, 33, was struck with a 'long' weapon, suffering multiple head injuries, and later died in hospital. The teen's adult co-defendant is accused of having 'actively suppressed' evidence by selling a car to help him escape after arrest. Craig Kapitan is an Auckland-based journalist covering courts and justice. He joined the Herald in 2021 and has reported on courts since 2002 in three newsrooms in the US and New Zealand.
NZ Herald
06-05-2025
- General
- NZ Herald
Slain US student Kyle Whorrall may be awarded a posthumous PhD, memorial pōhutukawa tree planted
Auckland Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson told the Herald that Whorrall only had three months to go to complete his thesis. 'The research had been done, he just needed to put it together.' A spokesperson for the University of Auckland, where Whorrall was completing his PhD in entomology, said they were considering awarding him an honorary doctorate. Yesterday, as Carole listened to the outpouring of love for her son through speeches, song, prayer and poems, a taonga pounamu hung around her neck. She told the Herald the taonga had been gifted to her by someone close to her son at the University of Auckland. 'It was a beautiful gift, it's a beautiful thing to take home with me.' Reverend Otene Rawiti, who led the service, blessed the taonga for her as the service finished. 'It's really special, [having it blessed here] was really special.' After she helped put the tree into the ground, Carole was the first to add the dirt around it. 'This is very healing,' she told Whorrall's flatmate and close friend. Earlier in the ceremony, Whorrall's flatmate and mother clung to each other as Rawiti explained to the crowd the meaning behind why a pōhutukawa was chosen. Rawiti explained the connection between the tree and its namesake, one of the seven stars, or daughters, of Matariki. The eldest child of Matariki, Pōhutukawa is said to be the star connected to the dead. 'Pōhutukawa reminds us of those who have passed on... it reminds us we must honour their memory. 'When you see the flowers, you'll see your son.' Speaking to the Herald after the memorial, Orakei Local Board chairman Scott Milne said there was still a 'profound sense of shock'. He said it was days like today, with bright blue skies and the sun shining overhead, that he sees a silver lining in such tragedy. 'We have seen such a coming together of the community and such an acknowledgement that we need to spend more time talking with each other, and listening to each other.' He said Carole told him she intended to come back with her family to visit the tree, to see her son in its flowers. 'I can see that, I can see that, that she has been changed, and she said so herself because I think she's been a little overwhelmed with the genuineness of what's happened here. 'She has embraced people who have felt deeply hurt, as of course, she and her family are just devastated.' Carole will travel back to America today with her son's body for a family funeral. Police investigation A 16-year-old boy has been charged with Whorrall's murder and aggravated robbery and a 32-year-old woman has been charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder. Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin said there had been no further arrests or charges in the homicide investigation but search warrants had been executed in the past few days. Police were following 'positive lines of inquiry', he told the Herald. Police had also found the occupants of a silver Mitsubishi Grandis they were seeking last week, saying that they could hold information about why Whorrall was killed. Carole said the police had been 'very diligent' in their investigation and 'extraordinarily kind' to the family.
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.
Otago Daily Times
04-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Murdered US student Kyle Whorrall mourned by community
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 Road in Meadowbank on 19 April, 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. 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. 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. 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.
