Police have closed parts of Captain Springs Road and Church Road after an assault on the number 74 bus service in Onehunga. Photo: RNZ / Lucy Xia
A passenger on board the Auckland bus where a woman was stabbed to death on Wednesday wants the family of the victim to know she did not die alone.
The woman who died has been identified as Bernice Louise Marychurch.
Kael Leona, 37, was taken into custody on Thursday, after the killing on an Onehunga bus about 2.30pm on Wednesday.
Leona handed himself in as has been charged with murder. He appeared in court on Friday.
A woman who was on the number 74 bus when the attack took place has described how passengers tried to help Marychurch.
Onehunga community board on fatal bus stabbing
"I just want to let her family know that she didn't die alone, that I held her hand in the bus until she got help and we did everything we could."
The witness said she and other passengers will carry the victim's kindness.
"All of us passengers and the driver started as strangers, but were united through the care we have for one another.
"It has been a painful reminder about the importance of community."
Police said they believed the attack was random, and the victim and alleged offender did not know each other, though they were sitting near each other.
They did not think there was an altercation before the attack.
Flowers left at an Onehunga bus stop after a woman was killed on Wednesday. Photo: RNZ/Nick Monro
Acting detective inspector Alisse Robertson said police would like to thank the wider community in the wake of the arrest.
"The investigation is still in its infancy and there's still a lot of work to be done to piece together the events leading up to this tragic incident.
"Police would like to thank everyone who has provided information, and would still like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed this ordeal."
Information can be provided by making an online report at 105.police.govt.nz using "Update Report" or by calling 105.
Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board chair Maria Meredith told Morning Report the Onehunga community has been on edge as of late, following another death in the Auckland suburb in August.
She said Leona handing himself in "brought much relief to our community".
"People were nervous. They didn't feel safe going out there. I did hear of a story where people didn't want to send their children to school because they were just uncomfortable knowing that the culprit was still out there following the incident.
"There certainly was that element of fear."
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