The security guard who died from his injuries after an alleged assault at a South Auckland supermarket was reportedly grieving the loss of his parents.
The Serbian national, Goran Milosavljevic was understood to be working at a Papakura Countdown when he was allegedly knocked to the ground from a single punch delivered by a youth he had been investigating for suspicious behaviour.
According to a Serbian website Blic, his parents had died last year in a car crash.
The crash happened after they dropped Mr Milosavljevic’s son at the airport who was reportedly making his way back to New Zealand.
The news website reports Mr Milosavljevic's youngest son, who was also in the car, survived the crash and relocated to New Zealand.
Mr Milosavljevic's sons are being cared for by the Serbian community in New Zealand.
In a statement on Friday, Countdown Managing Director Dave Chambers said they are focussing on supporting Mr Milosavljevic's family.
"The safety of our people and customers is our absolute priority, and no New Zealander should go to work and not expect to return home to their loved ones."
A 17-year-old male has been charged with manslaughter after the alleged assault.
He has been granted interim name suppression until at least his next appearance, which will be on May 29 at the High Court in Auckland.
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