Niethe family, friends relieved at arrest but want body back

Mark Pakenham. File Photo / Greg Bowker

Sara Niethe's family and friends are relieved to have an arrest but say the one thing they really want is for her remains to be returned to them.

Ms Niethe's former partner, Mark Pakenham, yesterday appeared in the North Shore District Court charged with her murder in March 2003.

Despite his arrest, police say they have still not found the 30-year-old's body or the green Honda Civic she was driving on the day she was killed.

Those close to the mother-of-three have told the Herald they always suspected her disappearance eight years ago was the result of a foul play.

News that someone had finally been caught has brought relief - but also a sad confirmation that she really was gone and a renewed longing to know what happened to her.

Ms Niethe's daughter Danielle Cameron yesterday told the Herald she was hoping more information about where her mother's body was would emerge between now and the trial.

"I was just real happy about it that someone finally got arrested.

"It's a good thing, definitely, it still hasn't given us any closure, no way. It hasn't exactly made me feel any better," she said.

Miss Cameron's memories of Pakenham were that "he was always a really nice guy to us". But she has never seen or heard from him since her mother disappeared.

No funeral has been held for Ms Niethe, who moved to the small Hauraki Plains town of Kerepehi from Maraetai with her three young children to start afresh.

Ms Niethe's close friend Sharon Drought, who owns the Kere Dairy in Kerepehi, said she was "shocked but happy" when news of Pakenham's arrest broke in the town, about 14km from Paeroa.

She had long realised that her friend was dead but remained hopeful her remains would be found.

Police have confirmed Pakenham, who had spent the evening drinking with Ms Niethe at his Kaihere home on the night she disappeared, featured in their original inquiries.

During his brief court appearance yesterday a woman who wore a wedding ring sat supportively in the public gallery and waved at the 49-year-old labourer.

He smiled at her and blew a kiss before being remanded in custody until today when he will reappear on a bail hearing. District rural field crime supervisor Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Whitehead

would not reveal if anyone helped with inquiries that led to the arrest.

Police spent months searching for Ms Niethe after she disappeared but even a $50,000 reward failed to generate any real leads.

They relaunched their investigation last November.

Miss Cameron said she puts flowers on a plaque that stands in a pebble garden next to their Kerepehi cottage on her mum's birthday.

The last time she saw her mum was two days before her 10th birthday in 2003.

"Mum was preparing my birthday party at the L & P cafe in Paeroa."

FINDING SARA

MARCH 30, 2003
Last known whereabouts was at Mark Pakenham's Kaihere home. He said she left his place around midnight. Her family say she never returned home. Her car and body have never been found.

2010
Police review the file and decide to launch an extensive reinvestigation.

AUGUST 16, 2011
Pakenham charged with murder.