Staff witnessed a violent fight before the insect expert was stabbed, police say

An Auckland insect expert was caught in a violent fight before being fatally stabbed, authorities said.

Police have revealed more details about the death of entomologist Stephen Thorpe on Saturday morning.

Thorpe was at the Blockhouse Bay Tennis Club, working on his laptop at the time, police said.

He then went outside where a violent fight broke out, which ended with Thorpe receiving stab wounds before dying at the scene.

Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin said Thorpe went outside and shortly afterwards “screams for help” were heard.

The person who attacked Thorpe probably had blood on him when he fled, but it has not yet been found.

Police have urged anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage to get in touch.

A staff member working at the club witnessed the victim’s violent fight and went to get a phone to call for help, Bladwin said.

More to come…