Police working to ID body found at house
A homicide investigation is under way after human remains were found in Manurewa, South Auckland on Thursday.
Detective Inspector Tofilau Faamanuia Vaaelua said the occupants of the Moncrieff Ave home were not believed to be involved in the homicide.
“There is no immediate risk to the public,” Vaaelua said.
Police were trying to identify the dead person so they could establish what happened.
“This might take some time,” Vaaelua said.
Staff had been working at the address, including the specialist search group.
Vaaelua said police understood the public interest in the case, but a number of inquiries were yet to be carried out.
A police guard was in place yesterday and specialists were working at the Clendon Park property.
Two hearses were seen at the property, neighbours said.
The property has been cordoned off, with a large police tent erected over part of the front of it.
An RNZ reporter had earlier seen a body being loaded into a hearse, and a neighbour had also told the Weekend Herald they understood a body had been found at the property.
A neighbour who has lived in the area for only a month told the Herald he saw the hearse pull up on Thursday night.
He said he did not know the residents but nothing seemed suspicious and he had been surprised to see police officers at the property on Thursday.
Neighbours earlier said officers were at the scene since noon and up to eight police vehicles were in the street, which was blocked off.
A man living a few doors away from the scene said police weren’t saying much.
“They just mentioned to me it’s a crime scene.”
He’d heard other people say a body had been found at the property.
He hadn’t heard anyone in distress, but another neighbour’s dogs had been noisy about 1am or 2am. “There was a lot of barking.” A young woman, a man aged in about his 30s and an “old” man lived at the property, the neighbour said.
Moncrieff Ave was a “pretty solid street” and he was comfortable living there, the man said.
“There’s a few issues, but nothing serious.”