Police signal more charges over woman's killing

Police have signalled more charges against a 22-year-old man following the violent death of Christchurch widow Gaynor Alice White last week.

In Christchurch District Court today, Shaun Timothy Skilling, unemployed, was charged with burgling Mrs White's home in the upmarket suburb of Huntsbury and unlawfully taking her car, The Christchurch Court News website reported.

He was also accused of breaking into another Huntsbury property, and assaulting another woman.

He was remanded in custody by Judge Emma Smith to March 8 without plea and was abused by a sobbing woman as he was taken out of court.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Ross Unwin said further charges may be laid.

Defence counsel Andrew Bailey made no application for bail for Skilling and did not seek interim name suppression.

Mrs White's body was found in her home last Friday by a family member on Friday evening after she failed to keep an appointment.

She suffered head injuries but police have not revealed a cause of death.

- NZPA