Man charged with assault after body found

A 47-year-old man has been charged with assaulting a woman whose body was found in her Auckland home last night.

Police believe the body of the woman, 48, could have lain at her Warwick Street house in Western Springs for up to a month.

Detective Inspector Scott Beard said a 47-year-old self-employed computer programmer would appear in Auckland District Court this morning charged with assault.

Police and forensic scientists are today carrying out a scene examination of woman's house.

Mr Beard said police would be inquiring into the accused's background as well as the woman's, and it was hoped her body would be removed from the house today.

"It's clear from our preliminary evaluation of the scene that the woman has been dead for some weeks and we'd like to be able to get some clarity around when she was last seen alive and by whom," Mr Beard said.

He asked for information from anyone who had visited 1/26 Warwick St, Western Springs over the past month and who did not get a response or, was greeted by someone other than the woman who lived there.

- NZHERALD STAFF