Police are searching a landfill in Porirua for evidence which could help solve the murder of 79-year-old Helen Gregory in Wellington.
Gregory was found dead at her home in Baroda St, Khandallah, last month and a post mortem revealed her death was the result of a violent act.
Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Leitch said today’s search of specific areas within the landfill could “significantly advance” the inquiry.
It’s believed a person of interest in the murder disposed of items several hours after Gregory was killed, and these items were later taken to the landfill.
Police continue to appeal for information from anyone who may have any information to assist their investigations.
Neighbours of Gregory’s described her to RNZ as a keen gardener, and a quiet woman who kept to herself.
One neighbour, who did not want to be identified, told RNZ Gregory, who had gone to school with their aunty, spent a lot of her time gardening.
They said she was “very old school” and people would have mixed opinions about her - she either liked you, or she did not.
The amount of gardening she did and the layout and size of her hilly property helped keep her fit and out of a retirement home, they said.
The neighbour said Gregory’s only visitors were her daughter or, as she got older, her gardener.
Further up the road, neighbour Steve Watt said residents on Baroda St were anxious for answers in the next few days.
“It’s pretty sad really to know that someone in your own street and neighbour, especially an older lady living on her own, that that’s happened, you know, to someone like that, especially in a quiet little street like this. But I suppose there’s a few concerned residents but they just want to know what the full story is.”
Watt has lived on Baroda St for 20 years and said during his time there he only saw Gregory a handful of times. He said she was a quiet lady who kept to herself.
Police conducted a lengthy scene examination at the property and the surrounding street, asking neighbours if they had seen any unusual activity or people they did not recognise in the area.
Ōhāriu MP Greg O’Connor said locals were anxious to know whether it was a random attack or involved someone known to the woman.
“A quick resolution is the only thing that will still that anxiety I think.”
There was not thought to be any wider risk to the community, according to Detective Inspector Nick Pritchard.
Vita Molyneux is a Wellington-based journalist who covers breaking news and stories from the capital. She has been a journalist since 2018 and joined the Herald in 2021.
How a resilient Kiwi village hopes to bounce back from a big drop in visitors.