Cruel death for teacher who was a friend of all

Investigators check for clues at the house of home invasion victim Barbara Julian. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Barbara Catherine Julian was supposed to be retired. But she couldn't let go of her passion for teaching.

The 70-year-old also spent hours fundraising and at the hospital bedside of strangers in her voluntary work for the local hospice.

She still had an active social life, meeting a group of other widows every Wednesday for drinks and nibbles, and belonged to a quilting club.

She was always in the garden, and her love for flowers was obvious in the colourful blooms surrounding her Kaitaia home.

On Wednesday, it was Mrs Julian's turn to host the weekly meeting of widows.

But when the seven elderly ladies turned up on her door-step at the usual time of 4.30pm and she didn't answer, they knew something was wrong. Mrs Julian was never late.

The door was locked and the group's knocking drew no response, so they broke in.

They found Mrs Julian dead, the victim of an apparent home invasion.

Several elderly residents on Matthews Ave have since left their homes, afraid they may be the next target.

One woman, who lives alone on the street, had known Ms Julian since she moved to Kaitaia with her husband, Ted, five years ago.

"It's scary knowing it was something that happened next door. It could have happened to me. If I had been home, he could have come and got me.

"Ever since I met her, she seemed like a person I'd known for years. I will really miss her."

A niece, Linda Lunjevich, said the family would hold a small service with an Anglican priest to bless the house. Police had said they did not know when Mrs Julian's body would be released, but the family hoped to hold a funeral next week.

"The family are absolutely shattered. She was a warm, loving lady. It's just not right."

Kaingaroa School near Doubtless Bay, about 26km northeast of Kaitaia, was one of at least five primary schools in the region at which Ms Julian taught.

Principal Pat Duncan described her as a "local identity".

"She was a very kind, caring, really genuine lady," Ms Duncan said.

"The other thing that struck me about Barbara is that she was always pleased to see you. She was one of those ladies. Whenever she came to the school, it was as if it was the greatest thing she could do was to come to your school and relieve for you today."

Mrs Julian and her husband, who died of cancer about four years ago, moved to Kaitaia from their farm at Mangamuka Bridge, about 38km southeast of the town, when he retired about five years ago.

Mrs Julian spent most of her married life teaching at Umawera School, a small rural primary near their farm which both of her children attended and her grandson now attends.

Cousin Stella Julian said Mrs Julian had taken on less teaching work this year, helping out only when other teachers were sick. But she couldn't give up the job completely.

"She was supposed to be retired.

"She was lovely. She was always helping somebody. She was very family-orientated."

Maureen Messenger, chairwoman of the Far North Palliative and Cancer Care Community Hospice, said Ms Julian had been a volunteer for about four years.

She also recently held a garage sale at her home to raise money for the hospice.

A 17-year-old youth appeared in the Kaitaia District Court yesterday charged with unlawfully being on a property, and was remanded in custody for two weeks.

Detective Inspector Karen Mathus of Kaitaia said police did not believe the 17-year-old was known to Ms Julian.

"He has been upgraded to our prime suspect. If that provides the public with some re-assurance, then I'm glad for that."

But the investigation had "some way to go", she said, so police were still seeking information from anyone who could give it.

The youth was arrested on another Matthews Ave property after the occupant phoned the police. Part of that property - a few houses down on the opposite side of the road from Mrs Julian's home- was cordoned off yesterday as police combed the scene.

Ms Mathus said two incidents of "suspicious activity" before Mrs Julian's body was found had been reported, but she would not say what they were.