Adrian Soane Patita Pani has been publicly named as the man accused of killing 59‑year‑old Tongan passenger Sosefo Leger during a knife attack on an Auckland bus in December last year.
Pani, 36, was arrested on December 9, one day after what police described as an “unprovoked” stabbing aboard Auckland Transport’s number 76 bus as it travelled from Glen Innes toward Ōrākei.
According to court and police records, the bus was nearly empty when Pani boarded at 7.53pm on December 8.
Leger entered moments later and was allegedly attacked as he attempted to exit near Fenchurch Street. He died later that night after being taken to hospital.
A second passenger, aged 51, was also stabbed in a separate attack minutes later and required surgery but survived.
Pani has been charged with Leger’s murder and with wounding another passenger with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
He pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial. His identity can now be published following the lifting of earlier name‑suppression orders, the NZ Herald reported.
Kaniva News understands that both Pani and Leger are of Tongan descent. It remains unclear whether the two men knew each other or if the fatal attack stemmed from any prior dispute.
Police have not released information suggesting a motive, and the incident is still being treated as an unprovoked act of violence.
Pani is scheduled to stand trial next February.
