The Toothcare West clinic in Henderson after Saturday's fatal fire. Photo / Dean Purcell
The Korean woman found dead in a burning West Auckland dental surgery is believed to have suffered injuries before succumbing to smoke and flames.
Police yesterday arrested a 43-year-old Korean man and charged him with the woman's murder, the attempted murder of another man and arson of the
clinic in Henderson, which was found to have had a liquid accelerant splashed throughout it.
Detectives are releasing few details about what happened at the Toothcare West clinic but the arrested man is believed to be one of two men who were at the clinic when it went up in flames on Saturday afternoon.
One of the men, Choonsik "Andy" Moon, owned the clinic. He was also the murdered woman's brother-in-law and witnesses have described seeing him frantically trying to get her out of the burning building.
While police have not publicly named the woman, she is believed to be 42-year-old dental assistant Misook Kim, a mother of three who had worked at the clinic for about three years. Toothcare West office manager Rosemary Henshall said: "[Ms Kim] didn't have very much English but she was sweet natured and hardworking."
The arrested man, who was described as a self-employed businessman, is due to appear in the Waitakere District Court today.
Most of Ms Kim's family are overseas and are still being notified of her death.
