Husband’s charges unrelated to wife’s death
Police are continuing to investigate the sudden death of a mother of five in the small Mid Canterbury town of Methven at the weekend.
The Herald can confirm Hollie Jayne Kereru’s husband faces charges and will appear in the Christchurch District Court — but the charges do not relate to her death.
Emergency services were called about 9.30am on Saturday to a house on Main St in the town, which is about an hour inland from Christchurch.
Twelve hours later police said Kereru’s death was “unexplained”.
An autopsy was done on Sunday and investigators and forensic staff remained at the property yesterday carrying out a scene examination.
The Herald has learned that Kereru’s husband, Joshua, was due to appear in the Christchurch court yesterday morning facing two charges — possession of a needle or syringe and assaulting police.
He did not appear and was granted a registrar’s remand until October 30.
He has not been charged in relation to Kereru’s death.
Police yesterday refused to comment on the charges or the circumstances surrounding the death.
They said the scene examination was expected to finish today.
On Sunday Mid-South Canterbury Area Commander Inspector Dave Gaskin said there was no danger to the public after the “incident”.
The property where Kereru died borders the Our Lady of the Snows School and Our Lady of the Snows Church. She had lived in the presbytery, a large property that once housed the local Catholic priest but was now rented out.
The death has shocked Methven locals, who said the couple, both farm workers, had been living there for a few years.
It is understood the couple’s five young children are in the care of family in Christchurch.
Locals are said to be rallying around to support the family, with a candlelight vigil to be held last night outside the Main St house.
Kereru’s funeral will be held on Friday in Invercargill.