Murder charge after woman dies

A man has been charged with murdering a woman who died soon after being found with critical injuries in Christchurch yesterday.

The 42-year-old is scheduled to appear in Christchurch District Court today.

Emergency services were called to Orchard Rd, near Christchurch Airport, just before 6.50am yesterday. A woman was found critically injured and died a short time later, police said. The woman was not taken to hospital. Police said a man at the scene was arrested.

Detective Senior Sergeant Nicola Reeves said a member of the public alerted emergency services, and had been interviewed by police as a witness.

Police had finished a scene examination, and an autopsy would be carried out today. Reeves would not say if the man and the woman were known to each other, saying it was early in the investigation and ‘‘there’s still a lot we have to establish’’.

Police would be providing support to the victim’s family, Reeves said. ‘‘Our thoughts are with them.’’

No one else was being sought in relation to the woman’s death.

A St John spokesman said an ambulance was called to the scene at 7.02am. Officers assessed a man who had minor injuries. He did not need to be taken to hospital.

A police spokesman earlier said the incident took place near an Air New Zealand engineering/maintenance centre, but did not involve any airline staff.

A spokesman for Air New Zealand said: ‘‘While this incident is unrelated to Air New Zealand, we are assisting the police with their inquiries.’’