Former detective charged with wife's murder to reappear in court

Former detective David Charles McSweeney will reappear in court today, charged with murdering his wife and kidnapping and injuring her mother.

McSweeney, 58, had stitches stretching the length of the left side of his neck and bandages on his left wrist as he stood in the dock at the North Shore District Court yesterday, flanked by two police officers and medical staff.

He has been charged with murdering his wife, Suzanne Marie McSweeney, 50, and kidnapping and injuring her mother, Doreen Radford.

His wife's body was discovered in a building at Anvil Rd, Silverdale, 30km north of Auckland, about 1pm on Good Friday.

The address is in a light industrial area where the couple's company Creative Textiles, which made curtains, blinds and soft furnishings, was based.

Police have described the incident as "domestic".

When he appeared before Justices of the Peace Brian Cullen and Eddie Stark yesterday McSweeney had just been discharged from North Shore Hospital, where he has been recovering from serious injuries since Good Friday.

Initially it was thought the hearing would be conducted at his hospital bedside.

McSweeney's lawyer Hugh Leabourn said he had concerns about McSweeney's wellbeing and asked that his client be remanded in custody in a secure environment until his case could be dealt with by a judge today.

McSweeney was then remanded in custody to reappear in the North Shore District Court.

He was expected to spend the night in police cells or the Auckland Central Remand Prison.

The former detective, who left the force to work as a private investigator, is known for being one of two detectives who headed the "Parnell Panther" inquiry.

That resulted in the arrest and conviction of Mark Stephens, who served 7 1/2 years of a 12-year jail term for the rape of an Auckland model and beating film producer Robyn Scholes.

He also arrested Major Alain Mafart and Captain Dominique Prieur, the French secret service agents who helped mastermind the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior.