Police Narrow Down Murder Time

Media Release 4.00pm June 7, 2000

Police Narrow Down Murder Time

Auckland City Police investigating the murder of a young woman in Glen lnnes last night believe she was killed in the early evening, sometime after 6pm.

The woman, who's body was found naked in the East View Reserve by a Police officer at about midnight, is believed to have been reported missing by her family late last night.

"The inquiry team has carried out a preliminary scene examination today and discovered contents of a woman's handbag strewn around the area near where her body was found," Detective Senior Sergeant Stu Allsopp-Smith said.

"We don't know how she died and we can't confirm an identity at this stage, but we strongly believe she was a 23-year old professional woman who worked as a journalist in the city."

A post-mortem will be carried out tomorrow and formal identification procedures will be completed before that.

"Our inquiries today lead us to believe the victim left work to travel home by bus at about 5.15prn, so she may have arrived in Glen lnnes at about 6pm,"
Mr Allsopp-Smith said.

"We're appealing to anyone who saw or heard anything in the main street of Glen lnnes or around the East View Reserve after that time to contact us immediately."

ENDS

Issued by:

Noreen Hegarty
Communications Manager
Auckland City District Police

Ph: 09 302 6947 or 021 651 589

Media Release 11.00am June 7, 2000

Police Officer Discovers Suspected Homicide Victim

Auckland City Police have launched a homicide inquiry after discovering the body of a naked woman in the East View Reserve in Glen Innes late last night.
A Glen Innes Police officer found the woman, believed to be a local, at about midnight during a search for a woman who was earlier reported missing. The scene where the body was found was immediately cordoned off and guarded overnight until a more detailed scene examination could he undertaken today.

Detective Senior Sergeant Stu Allsopp-Smith is heading the inquiry and says that although it may be some hours before the body can be removed from the scene and formerly identified, it is very possibly that of the woman reported missing.

"We think it's a young Caucasian woman in her 20s who didn't arrive home from work at her usual time. This alarmed her family who, after conducting some inquiries of their own, notified Police she was missing," he said.

"However, we can't confirm any identity so if anyone knows of anyone else who might be missing, they should contact us at the Glen Innes Police station immediately."

Police would also like to hear from anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious or unnerving in the Glen Innes village area, Line Road or the East View Reserve any time last night.

"We'd also like to be notified if anyone finds any clothing or personal property that looks like it's been discarded in the area. It may be that someone has arrived home with some unusual goods or has tried to dispose of things. We'd very much appreciate being informed."

The woman reported missing to the Glen Innes Police works in the city and generally commutes to and from work by bus and normally catches it and gets dropped near Line Road in Glen Innes.

Police hope to be able to complete the bulk of the scene examination at East View Reserve today and anticipate a post-mortem will be carried out either late today or tomorrow.

Anybody with any information should contact the Glen Innes Police telephone
09 524 1910 or call 111.

ENDS

Issued by:

Noreen Hegarty
Communications Manager
Auckland City District Police

Ph: 09 302 6947 or 021 651 589

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