Murdered mother and daughter died of 'violent and severe head injuries'

Palmerston North woman Christine Lundy and her daughter, Amber, died of "extremely violent and severe" head injuries, police said yesterday.

The bodies of Mrs Lundy, aged 38, and 7-year-old Amber, found in the bedroom area of their Karamea Crescent home on Wednesday morning, were formally identified yesterday. They were identified by forensic, rather than visual means, Palmerston North police said.

The inquiry is one of three major homicide investigations under way, with murder hunts in Paeroa and Taumarunui.

A post-mortem examination on Mrs Lundy was carried out on Saturday night after her body was removed through a front window of her home on Friday afternoon.

An examination of her daughter's body was made on Thursday.

Police investigating their deaths do not yet know what weapon was used to inflict the injuries, but want to hear from anyone who came across an object which could have been used, Detective Sergeant Peter Rollinson said.

Blood had been found at the Kelvin Grove house and an examination of the scene was continuing last night.

Wellington specialists, who examined the immediate area around the Lundys' home, had finished and returned to Wellington without finding any objects of interest, Detective Sergeant Rollinson said.

It was clear the attacker had to enter and leave Karamea Cres and police urged anyone with information about people or vehicles in the area between late Tuesday and 9.30 am the next day to contact them.

Mrs Lundy's husband, Mark, was away on business when his wife and daughter were killed.

Police did not yet know whether the deaths were random killings or if the house had been targeted.

It looked as though there had been no forced entry into the home, Detective Sergeant Rollinson said.

Police also said that a Paeroa man whose body was found at his home on Thursday morning died violently.

Brian Olsen, 25, was found dead in his Thames Rd home by his mother and a friend who forced their way in through a window.

An autopsy revealed a number of serious injuries, indicating Mr Olsen was the victim of "considerable violence," said Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Whitehead, of Waikato CIB.

Detective Senior Sergeant Whitehead said some of the injuries were consistent with a sharp instrument having been used, but he would not elaborate. He said no weapon had been recovered.

Police had descriptions of a number of people who visited Mr Olsen at his rented home, and had spoken to some of them.

Detective Senior Sergeant Whitehead urged those not yet spoken to by police to contact them.

He said Mr Olsen had not reported any complaints to police before his death.

In Taumarunui, police were last night remaining silent over progress in the hunt for the person or persons who killed Te Miringa Shayle Tipene, known as Millie Dunn. Her body was found in her New Rd home on Tuesday with extensive injuries to her upper torso, neck and head.

And the man accused of murdering South Auckland liquor store owner Shiu Prasad will reappear in the Otahuhu District Court today.

- NZPA