Key Takeaways
- A 19-year-old man has been charged with murder and two counts of assault in a family relationship after a incident at a Burnham property
- The body of an elderly woman was found at the property after police were called to reports of disorder
- The 19-year-old is alleged to have assaulted a relative, who then barricaded herself in a room and called police
- The incident occurred on a rural road in Burnham, with neighbours describing the area as usually quiet and expressing shock at the death
- The 19-year-old will appear in the Christchurch District Court on Tuesday afternoon
Introduction to the Incident
The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning, with police being called to a property on Burnham School Road at approximately 3:05am. The call was made after a report of disorder, and upon arrival, police found a scene that would lead to a 19-year-old man being charged with murder and two counts of assault in a family relationship. The charges are in relation to the death of an elderly woman, whose body was found at the property, and the alleged assault of a relative.
The Arrest and Charges
A 19-year-old man has been charged with murder and two counts of assault in a family relationship, and will appear in the Christchurch District Court on Tuesday afternoon. According to Detective Senior Sergeant Karen Simmons, the 19-year-old was taken into custody after police responded to the report of disorder. It is understood that the 19-year-old was tasered by police upon their arrival at the property. The charges against the 19-year-old are serious, and the fact that they will be appearing in court on the same day as the incident suggests that the police have gathered sufficient evidence to proceed with the case.
The Scene and Neighbourhood
The property where the incident occurred is located on a long rural road surrounded by farmland. Neighbours have described the area as usually quiet, with one woman saying that it is "actually a really lovely road to live on, neighbours all wave out to each other and I never heard a thing so it’s a real shock". The fact that the neighbours did not hear anything unusual on the night of the incident suggests that the incident may have been contained within the property. A blue police tent has been set up at the property, and the area has been cordoned off as forensic officers examine the scene. The presence of forensic officers suggests that the police are taking a thorough approach to investigating the incident, and are likely to gather as much evidence as possible.
Neighbourhood Reaction
The news of the death has sent shockwaves through the community, with neighbours expressing their sadness and surprise at the incident. One man, who did not wish to be named, said that he had met the family who lived at the property a couple of times over the years, and found them to be pleasant. He only found out about the death after checking the news on Tuesday morning, and was clearly shaken by the news. Another neighbour woke up early to flashing police lights, but did not hear anything unusual. The reaction of the neighbours suggests that the incident has had a significant impact on the community, and that the death of the elderly woman will be deeply felt.
Investigation and Next Steps
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, with police working to piece together the events that led to the death of the elderly woman. The fact that the 19-year-old has been charged with murder and two counts of assault in a family relationship suggests that the police have gathered sufficient evidence to proceed with the case. The 19-year-old will appear in court on Tuesday afternoon, where the details of the case will likely be revealed. As the investigation continues, the community will be waiting to hear more about what happened, and how the incident occurred. The police will likely be working to provide support to the family and friends of the elderly woman, as well as to the community, as they come to terms with the incident.
