New mother dies in brutal motel attack

Police are looking for the partner of a new mother they believe was killed in a brutal attack in an Invercargill motel room.

A homicide investigation started after officers found the body of Azalia Wilson in a unit at the Bavarian Motel on North Rd, in Waikiwi, about 11am on Sunday.

They went there after a concerned person contacted them.

A relative of Wilson, 22, said her baby – her first child – is only a few months old. Investigators believe she died from a brutal attack in the motel unit hours earlier.

Officers want to find 31-year-old Samuel Samson in relation to the incident, Southland area commander Inspector Mike Bowman said. Samson is believed to be Wilson’s partner.

‘‘Samson is considered dangerous and should not be approached,’’ Bowman said.

Specialist investigators were continuing to work at the motel and police were providing support to the victim’s family.

Stuff spoke to Wilson in 2016 after a fire broke out in her Invercargill home. She noticed flames, alerted her mother and nephew to get out and saved a kitten, Fanta, as she fled the house.

Bowman asked members of the public to come forward with any relevant information. ‘‘Officers would like to speak to anyone who may have seen any unusual activity or suspicious vehicles in the Fosbender Park and Oreti River areas near Dunns Rd between approximately

3.30am and 9am [on Sunday],’’ he said. Police also wanted to hear from anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious in the North Rd area between Weka St and West Plains Rd, between 9pm on Saturday night and 9am Sunday.

Police using a speed boat and divers searched the Oreti River at Fosbender Park in Otatara yesterday morning. An officer at the scene said the search had finished about 1.40pm, but could not comment on whether anything was recovered.

A scene guard was at the motel yesterday morning as examinations continued. A blue tarpaulin covered the motel door.

Bavarian Motel owner Marshall Le said the incident was related to a guest staying at the motel, and staff were not involved.

‘‘We don’t know what happened in the room,’’ Le said. No-one was allowed into the motel room, and he had not been in there himself, he said.

Bavarian Motel manager Michelle Chang was shocked to learn police were investigating a homicide at the motel. It was peak season so the motel was busy, she said.

Anyone who had seen Samson or knew where he was should call 111 immediately.

Information can also be provided anonymously through Crimestoppers on

0800 555 111.

Azalia Wilson