Wellington journalist Phillip Cottrell who died from severe bashing was attacked by a bully, according to a criminal expert.

Cottrell, 43, was on his way home from overnight shift at Radio New Zealand (RNZ) when he was attacked in Boulcott Street in central Wellington just before six in the morning on Saturday. He was found by a taxi driver and rushed to the hospital, but he did not regain consciousness, and instead died the next day.

Authorities investigating the case said the killing was random, considering that his wallet, which was taken during the attack, was believed to have contained only about $80.

Greg Newbold, Professor of Sociology at Canterbury University, said the attack was a result of a bully's sport.

"(Attacking bullies) pick on a weak, inoffensive, effeminate-looking guy who doesn't look like he could hurt a fly and they beat him to death for his wallet,'' Newbold told APNZ, adding, "That for them is sport.''

Such bullies do not care about how much they could take from their victim.

"It's wrong to say they did it for the money,'' said Newbold.

In analyzing a random bully's attack, the crime sociologist said one could presume offender had presumably been abused themselves and were simply getting back at others for their own bashing or bullying experiences.

Police is now working on reaching out to people seen in the CCTV footage around the area of the attack, including a man and woman seen walking up Boulcott Street about 5:30am. Authorities said statements from those in the CCTV footage would be taken as witnesses' accounts.

On Wednesday night, police named a man they would like to speak to with regards to the killing of Cottrell. Through the media, police advised the public to not approach the man; instead, citizens should contact the police once he is found.

The man, Nicho Allan Waipuka, 19, was also in the vicinity of Boulcott Street at 5:30am on Saturday.

CCTV footages around the crime scene were still being analyzed by experts, the NZ Herald reported.