Dispute over man’s body

Colin McCormick died when he was hit by a car on August 23 in North Canterbury. The fiancee of a man killed on a Canterbury road says his ex-partner needs to drop her fight to keep his body from his family.

Colin McCormick had been living with Jill Robertson at her South New Brighton home, in Christchurch, for about two years after the pair met in Kaiapoi, where McCormick died on August 23.

The talented musician and fisherman was hit by a car on Beach Rd just after 1am. He died at the scene. Bridget Painter, who was a friend and former girlfriend of McCormick, earlier said it was understood he was camping near the Waimakariri River mouth, as he was whitebaiting in the area before his death.

The 44-year-old’s body is now being held in the mortuary until a dispute over who his next of kin is resolved. An expartner, from a two-year relationship that ended in 2017, was named next-of-kin, which his family disputes.

Robertson, who became engaged to McCormick in August last year, said she ‘‘can’t believe’’ what has happened and that her fiancee’s ex-partner, who he never talked about, was trying to take his body from his family.

‘‘She’s not the next of kin,’’ she said. ‘‘I want him to be able to have the big send-off with his family and friends. I would have included [the ex-partner] anyway. I would’ve included everyone.’’

Robertson remembered McCormick as an adventurous person, always fishing and playing music, particularly songs from his favourite artist, Bob Marley.

‘‘When he sang his songs he made them his and sounded even better than Bob. He wanted to set up a band called Bob A Like.

‘‘I just adored his music. He was to me, someone I admired.’’

The couple travelled most weekends to places like Nelson and the West Coast, particularly Granity, where McCormick once worked for a company testing water pollution.

More recently, he worked for Composite Pools, a pool-making company on Dyers Rd.

His passion was fishing and he loved

‘‘I want him to be able to have the big send-off with his family and friends. I would have included [the ex-partner] anyway. I would’ve included everyone.’’

Jill Robertson, pictured

living near the sea. The couple made most of their meals with seafood they had caught or gathered, Roberton said.

‘‘We had plans to buy a boathouse to do charter . . . fishing tours. We were saving for that. We had a lot of plans.

‘‘The family and I only want for Colin to have the send-off he deserves with all his family and fans. He never wanted to be owned by anyone, only love. He would detest what is happening now.’’

McCormick’s sister, Missy Hinemoa Macpherson, said the family were seeking a High Court hearing to get his body released to them.

A Coronial Services spokesman earlier said it was not the coroner’s role to adjudicate in family disputes.

The coroner would hold the body at the mortuary until the next-of-kin was agreed on, or decided by the High Court. The body may be frozen by the mortuary if the dispute was prolonged, he said.