Death of 77-year-old man now treated as homicide

Police are now treating the death of an elderly man at his Levin home on Saturday night as a homicide.

Detective Sergeant Pete Govers of Levin police said two of the man's family members, who police earlier said were assisting with inquiries, were now seeking legal advice.

Police were called to the man's home at 11pm on Saturday. The 77-year-old man was found dead in his bed.

Senior Sergeant Kris Burbery said the investigation would be a long and involved process.

Inquiries would certainly be continuing into next week.

A post-mortem examination on Monday in Palmerston North showed the cause of death as asphyxiation.

Mr Burbery said a police inquiry team completed its scene examination late on Monday night and was now concentrating on area and general inquiries.

It was understood the two family members living at the address at the time of the death have returned to the home.

Asked if the death was being treated as a case of euthanasia or mercy killing Mr Burbery said: "Police are keeping an open mind in relation to the death."

Wellington lawyer Greg King told NZPA yesterday the family had approached him for legal advice and he was awaiting the outcome of police inquiries.

Last year, Mr King represented a Kapiti man who admitted killing his wife in a suicide pact and a Nelson man acquitted of murdering his severely brain-damaged baby girl.

Mr Burbery confirmed one of the possibilities being considered in the investigation was a suicide pact.

"Police are now aware that the dead man was suffering from Alzheimer's disease."

But they were not sure to what extent the disease had progressed, he said.

Mr Burbery said family members living outside the district were coming to Levin to help with the inquiry.

Last year, Wanganui woman Lesley Martin served seven months in jail for attempting to kill her terminally ill mother.

Ms Martin, who was released in December, said yesterday she had not had contact with the Levin family but knew what they were going through if euthanasia was involved in the case.

Speaking from New Plymouth, Ms Martin said the challenge to help someone end the pain and suffering was like no other she or anyone else could face.

"If there was a suicide pact like is being suggested I truly hope the person who faced up to the challenge, wrestled with the morality of what had to be done, is getting all the support they can right now," she said.

Ms Martin said the person would have to face up to a lot in the coming months. She was under investigation for 10 months before being charged.

- NZPA