Elderly couple victims of ‘heinous’ crime say police

Two elderly people tonight lie dead in a flat in Feilding after what police have described as a "heinous" crime.

The two people have not yet been formally identified but police have confirmed they are an elderly man and his elderly female friend.

The pair were found dead by police shortly after 8am today in the Bowen Street flat in central Feilding.

Feilding is just 25km from Marton where Mona Morriss, Mrs Morriss, 83, was stabbed to death in her pensioner flat in January this year.

The search for her killer continues.

Detective Sergeant Ross Grantham of Feilding said a scene examination had been started at the Feilding flat. "This is a homicide investigation and indications are that other people are involved in this heinous crime."

Family members of the two people had been spoken to but a formal identification would not be done until tomorrow.

"Tomorrow morning the scene examination will continue, along with the area canvas.

"The deceased will be removed and post mortem examinations will be conducted."

Mr Grantham would not say at this stage how it appeared the pair had died .

As of this afternoon, 12 police were working on the Feilding case and more were to be added as evidence was uncovered.

An area canvas was also started this afternoon.

Mr Grantham said it was far too early in the investigation to even be considering a link with the Mona Morriss inquiry.

Mrs Morriss was found in her Marton pensioner flat by a family member in January with stab wounds and other injuries, leaving the Marton community and her family and friends shocked and angry.

Although police ruled out sexual violation, they are investigating a "sexual aspect" to the crime.

Mrs Morriss had nine children, 33 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.

- NZPA