Dead couple lay in home for 13 days

The bodies of a married Motueka Valley couple found shot dead in their home last July lay undiscovered for 13 days, Motueka coroner Jim Fry has revealed.

Fredrich Artur Richard Lotze, 60 and Pamela Lotze, 48, were found dead from gunshot wounds to the head at their property by a neighbour on July 23 last year.

Mr Fry told an inquest yesterday that post mortem and forensic pathology examinations showed the pair lay dead in a study at their modest two-storey home for 13 days before being found.

"The only two people involved were Mr and Mrs Lotze who have died on or about July 10."

Mr Fry said police investigations indicated it was a murder-suicide, but he suppressed all evidence presented by Detective John Nicholls, of Motueka police .

"I am satisfied that all the events and issues needing investigation in this case were carried out, and I am of the opinion the conclusion drawn by Detective John Nicholls is the right one," Mr Fry said.

He found that Mrs Lotze was shot by her husband, while his death was self-inflicted.

The couple had lived at their Motueka Valley property for about eight years and had been married for almost 20 years.

They had met and married in Germany in 1985 where Mr Lotze had been a lawyer. Mrs Lotze was raised in Nelson.

The couple moved to New Zealand in 1993, where Mr Lotze gained citizenship two years later and went on to develop property in the region, predominantly in St Arnaud.

Mr Fry commented on suggestions made by neighbours at the time of the discovery that the couple's relationship had been strained and Mr Lotze had few friends.

"There has been much conjecture as to reasons for this incident, but this is not the purpose of this court."

- NZPA