Balanced News: Police name 48 year old James Whitikau Barton as man killed in Stoke assault

James Whitikau Barton, a 48-year-old man from Nelson, has been identified as the victim of a fatal assault in Stoke. The incident occurred on Friday night, and police were called to the scene on Orchard Street. Whitikau Barton was found with critical injuries and was taken to the hospital, where he later died. A homicide investigation is currently underway, and police are seeking information on a white BMW X5 station wagon with the registration BMW693, which they believe is of interest to the case. The police are providing support to the victim’s family and are appealing for any information related to the incident.