Family of Feilding murder victims relieved over arrest

David Konia during his brief appearance in court yesterday. Picture / Mark Mitchell

An unemployed Feilding man appeared in the Palmerston North District Court yesterday charged with the murders of pensioners Ted Ferguson and Margaret Waldin.

David Konia, 52, was arrested on Tuesday.

Mr Ferguson, 73, and Mrs Waldin, 76, were found stabbed to death in Mr Ferguson's Feilding flat on May 29.

Judge Nevin Dawson remanded Konia in custody without plea until June 28. His lawyer, Fergus Steedman, made no bail application.

Police and ESR staff have spent the past two days at Konia's flat and Inspector Dave White said they hoped to finish their examinations there today.

As well, 25 recruits from the police college have been sifting through the Feilding landfill, taking away clothing and documents.

Mr White said the police dive squad would return to the stream behind Mr Ferguson's flat today to continue searching for evidence.

About 50 officers were still working on the inquiry, dubbed Operation Rain, he said.

Mr Ferguson's sister, Betty Billett, said the family were happy police had made an arrest.

"It's very good," she said. "Life goes on but it will never be the same."

She said her heart went out to the family of murdered 83-year-old Marton woman Mona Morriss. Four months after she was stabbed to death in her flat, police are still searching for her killer.

"They must be going through hell because no one has been charged for that yet," said Mrs Billett.

Police have said there is no connection between the killings.

Mrs Billett said she would never go near her brother's flat again.

"There's just bad memories there now.

"We used to have some great times in there drinking cups of coffee and listening to country music. There's nothing there now."

Outside the court yesterday, Feilding resident Cyril Hindmarsh said people in the town were relieved an arrest had been made.

"They were such a loving pair, those two. Harmless.

"It gives relief to all the other pensioners around the place."

He said he went to the court to see who had been arrested because of rumours about who it might be.