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Homicide investigation launched after dead man found at Christchurch property

Author
Anna Leask, NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Wed, 13 Jan 2021, 3:53PM
Police are at a property in Papanui where a body has been found. Photo / Anna Leask
Police are at a property in Papanui where a body has been found. Photo / Anna Leask

Homicide investigation launched after dead man found at Christchurch property

Author
Anna Leask, NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Wed, 13 Jan 2021, 3:53PM

A man's body has been found at a north Christchurch address - prompting the third homicide investigation this month in the Garden City.

Police said they were alerted to the "location of the body" at a property on Main North Rd in Papanui at 9.44am.

A police spokesperson said one person is assisting them with their inquiries.

It is understood the body was buried at the property - a back section off the busy arterial route down a long driveway.

The house is owned by Martin Orme Berry and according to official records he lives there with Shirley Doreen Berry and Joanna Statham.

It's understood Shirley Berry is the mother of the other occupants.

Police went to the scene after being contacted by "an individual" who disclosed information about the buried remains, Stuff reported.

Further details are expected later today.

"We believe this is an isolated incident and we want to reassure members of the public that there are no general safety concerns for the wider Papanui community," the spokesperson said.

A scene guard is in place at the property while police investigate.

Early this afternoon a forensic team arrived to start a scene examination and a number of detectives were at the house.

Today's discovery comes after a spate of violence and killings in Christchurch.

A shooting in Kaiapoi on January 4 left Fairmont Wiringi, the son of a Mongrel Mob leader, seriously injured.

Wiringi's father Joseph is a Mongrel Mob president and his brother Fairlane is also a patched member of the gang.

It came just days after Christchurch man Kane Wayman - an associate of the Head Hunters gang - was killed.

Wayman had attended a New Year's Eve party at the headquarters of rival gang Mongols MC.

And Michael Graham was killed after an incident at his Linwood home on January 3.

His flatmate has been charged with murder.

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