Post by happycamper on Sept 4, 2009 18:24:47 GMT 12
Police say they strongly suspect that one of two bodies found in a Christchurch house today is missing woman Tisha Lowry and the other is the wife of a man charged with murder.
Detective Inspector Tom Fitzgerald said the bodies had been retrieved through a manhole at the house in the suburb of Wainoni.
He said it had not been possible to identify the bodies but suspected that one was Ms Lowry, 29, who went missing on September 25 last year.
She was understood to have lived in a house two doors along from the house where the bodies were found.
Mr Fitzgerald said that while he could not confirm the identities "it would be silly not to draw a connection with Tisha Lowry".
Her family was advised of the find this morning.
"The families are trying to cope with the possibilities at this time," he said.
Mr Fitzgerald said a Wainoni man, in his early 30s, appeared in Christchurch District Court this afternoon, accused of murdering a 35-year-old woman, thought to be his wife.
Police started a missing person inquiry on Sunday after he reported her missing.
The man was remanded in custody until September 11 and his name and that of his alleged victim were suppressed.
Duty solicitor Jared Bell told Judge John Bisphan police sought suppression of the names.
The judge granted the order but said the suppression would have to be fully argued when the case came back before the court.
Mr Bell told the court the man had three children, aged nine and under, and there were various family members who had not yet been told of events.
There were also mental health issues but he was unable to provide details yet, he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Fitzgerald said the two bodies were still at the scene, under the house and are likely to be for a few days.
Police were as yet unable to identify the two and no causes of death had yet been established.
Neither the arrested man or his wife were known to police.
Mr Fitzgerald said police would like any information about anything that happened at the address on Sunday morning.
Detective Inspector Tom Fitzgerald said the bodies had been retrieved through a manhole at the house in the suburb of Wainoni.
He said it had not been possible to identify the bodies but suspected that one was Ms Lowry, 29, who went missing on September 25 last year.
She was understood to have lived in a house two doors along from the house where the bodies were found.
Mr Fitzgerald said that while he could not confirm the identities "it would be silly not to draw a connection with Tisha Lowry".
Her family was advised of the find this morning.
"The families are trying to cope with the possibilities at this time," he said.
Mr Fitzgerald said a Wainoni man, in his early 30s, appeared in Christchurch District Court this afternoon, accused of murdering a 35-year-old woman, thought to be his wife.
Police started a missing person inquiry on Sunday after he reported her missing.
The man was remanded in custody until September 11 and his name and that of his alleged victim were suppressed.
Duty solicitor Jared Bell told Judge John Bisphan police sought suppression of the names.
The judge granted the order but said the suppression would have to be fully argued when the case came back before the court.
Mr Bell told the court the man had three children, aged nine and under, and there were various family members who had not yet been told of events.
There were also mental health issues but he was unable to provide details yet, he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Fitzgerald said the two bodies were still at the scene, under the house and are likely to be for a few days.
Police were as yet unable to identify the two and no causes of death had yet been established.
Neither the arrested man or his wife were known to police.
Mr Fitzgerald said police would like any information about anything that happened at the address on Sunday morning.