31 Mar 2023

Person pleads guilty to murdering two people in West Auckland in July 2022

1:00 pm on 31 March 2023
Entrance to the High Court in Auckland

Mikaere Puata-Chaney pleaded guilty to murdering Eliza and Geoffrey Trubuhovich in the High Court in Auckland. Photo: justice.govt.nz

A person involved in the homicide of two people in West Auckland last year has pleaded guilty to murder.

Mikaere Puata-Chaney stood before the High Court in Auckland and pleaded guilty to murdering Eliza and Geoffrey Trubuhovich in July of 2022.

The 27-year-old will be sentenced on the 27 July.

Police launched a homicide investigation in the Auckland suburb of Glendene in July last year after the firearms incident that left the pair dead.

In a statement police acknowledged today's guilty plea saying they would be able to comment further once Puata-Chaney had been sentenced.

Police issued the following statement on behalf of the Trubuhovich family.

"We request that you kindly respect our space, privacy and our dignity while we still grieve for Geoff and Eliza, who we treasured," the statement said.

"Today is only but another step on our recovery journey. It still causes us immense sadness and pain to relive the events of July 2022.

"We will always love them forever and continue to miss them every single moment."