Auckland, Oct 9 NZPA - The man accused of a knife attack which killed "good samaritan" Austin Hemmings in Auckland last year, will stand trial for murder.

Pauesi Leofa Brown was committed for trial in the High Court at Auckland following a two-day depositions hearing which ended in the district court today.

Brown was charged with stabbing Mr Hemmings to death in a small lane, a block from Queen St in the inner city, on September 25 last year as he tried to protect a woman Brown was allegedly threatening.

Brown was remanded in custody to reappear in the High Court next month.

During the hearing crown prosecutor Kevin Glubb said Brown believed the woman was interfering in his relationship with one of her colleagues.

He said Brown waited in Mills Lane, downtown Auckland, and during a confrontation with the woman Mr Hemmings intervened and was stabbed.

Mr Hemmings collapsed and died in spite of immediate medical aid.

NZPA