Ram shot by police after couple die
Grieving family of elderly couple in shock at deaths
Arogue ram believed to have killed an elderly couple in West Auckland confronted police officers in a paddock before it was shot dead. Police confirmed in a statement to news media yesterday evening that a “ram was in the paddock at the time we were notified of the deaths at 7.30am today”.
“Another party at the scene suffered a minor injury after being attacked by this ram,” police said.
“Once our staff arrived at the scene they too were confronted and approached by the ram. On undertaking a risk assessment, the ram was shot and died at the scene.”
Police said they are continuing to investigate the couple’s deaths at the Waitākere property on Anzac Valley Rd. “Police are continuing to investigate on behalf of the Coroner, to establish the full set of circumstances around what occurred in the paddock.
“As part of this process, postmortem examinations are due to be carried out tomorrow.”
A scene examination had been completed, police said.
The Herald earlier reported that the pair were found dead in the paddock by their son who went looking for them yesterday morning after he hadn’t heard from them, a family spokesman said.
Family member Dean Burrell said it was his mother’s sister and her husband who died. He said the couple were both in their early 80s, retired, and had lived at the property for eight years.
“Unfortunately, they both lost their lives in a tragic accident. They are nice people and didn’t deserve this.
“Everyone’s in shock as to what’s happened. They’re very upset. I feel like I was dreaming it, actually. It was a bit of shock, being told what had happened and I just didn’t believe it.”
Burrell’s father had phoned him to tell him the news.
“So I’ve come down here to support my cousins and the wider family.”
It is understood police believe the man went out to check on the ram and did not return. His wife later went out to check and did not return.
Burrell said the couple were hobby farmers.
“They had some sheep, some chickens and some cattle, I believe.”
A neighbour who knew the elderly couple for many years and who asked not to be named described them as “very quiet”.
He said he was unaware they had a ram on the property but he knew they ran sheep on the lifestyle block.
The neighbour said the man who lived at the property had been farming all his life. “He was a very good stockman,” the neighbour said.
The neighbour said he was very surprised to hear the couple may have been killed by a ram given their experience with animals.
Police were seen carrying bags as they walked from the property.