Youth accused of murdering Napier teen Kaea Karauria to face trial in October

A youth charged with the murder of Napier 15-year-old Kaea Karauria is due to face trial this year.A three-week trial has been scheduled to begin in the High Court at Palmerston North on 27 October.The 16-year-old defendant's name has been suppressed, as have other details of the case.Kaea died in the early hours of 11 May, 2025.He was discovered critically injured with stab wounds on Alexander Ave in Napier by police responding to reports of disorder at a birthday party nearby.He died at the scene despite the efforts of ambulance staff to save him.* This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald.