A car owned by a man reported missing by his family has been found at the scene of an unexplained death in North Canterbury. Video / George Heard
After seven weeks of living in “total fear”, the sister of a man found dead in a car says the family are relieved that someone has been charged with murder.
Leman’s sister, Nicky Leman, told the Herald the last seven weeks since her brother first went missing had been “total fear”.
“I haven’t been sleeping, I’ve been getting up throughout the night checking my windows and doors and making sure all my children are in bed safe it’s like I have not been sleeping. We’re all like that, we’re all a mess, all of us.”
Police raided a property in Oxford Rd, Rangiora today in relation to the homicide of Richard Leman. Photo / Kurt Bayer
“We had no idea what was going on because the police don’t tell you anything because they’ve got an investigation to do and then you don’t want to know because you don’t want to jeopardise anything, so it’s been a catch-22 situation, we want to know but then we don’t because we don’t want to compromise anything. If we talk to the wrong person we don’t want anything compromised because we want justice for Richard.”
Nicky Leman, who does not live in Christchurch, said it had been hard being in the same city knowing those responsible were “walking around… breathing the same air as all of us”.
“It’s such a hard thing... that is why today was a relief, first thing this morning it was a relief to get told they’d made an arrest.”
Leman was a beloved brother, son and father to three boys “his babies”, Nicky Leman said.
“He was a funny guy, he made us laugh when we were down, he put a smile on our face. That was just Richard.”
She said the family had “no clue” as to why someone would want to harm Leman.
“Richard was friends with everybody, that was how he was. If you were down, you could’ve been a complete stranger and if you were on the side of the road and if you were upset or crying or whatever, he would stop and say ‘Are you alright?’ and give you a hug and say ‘is there anything I can do to help you’. That’s the kind of guy he was.
“Everyone was Richard’s friend, it was like he had an infectious personality where you just wanted to be around him.”
Nicky Leman said her parents were “not coping at all”. The couple also lost their oldest child to leukemia, she said.
“I can’t come to terms with it, this is my little brother… every time I think about it I start to cry.”
She said the police had done an “amazing job” throughout their investigation.
“I think the police are amazing. They’ve been brilliant with my parents, because my parents are elderly and they’re very unwell, and just the way they’ve handled everything, I can’t speak highly enough of them.”
The family appealed to anyone who still had information they had not disclosed to speak up.
“If anybody knows anything to come forward to the police and give them the information so we can get justice for Richard and if there’s anybody else involved that the police get everybody involved, that’s it,” she said.
“The police are on the right track and they’re doing their job and they’re absolute in the course that they’re taking and that gives us comfort.”
Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Daniel Overend said the man charged with murdering Leman would appear in the Christchurch District Court on Tuesday.
“We are still urging anyone with specific information relating to Mr Leman’s murder to come forward and speak to the inquiry team,” Overend said.
“As the matter is now before the courts, and with the investigation ongoing, police cannot comment further.”
Police remain at the scene of the raided Oxford Rd property this afternoon.
Previously: Police searched several properties in homicide probe
Leman’s body was found inside his car, parked in a garage in Tyler St, Rangiora, on April 17. Police then began a homicide inquiry.
The Herald had previously reported that police visited a block of apartments in Rolleston, speaking to residents and asking about comings and goings from Leman’s former flat.
It’s understood Leman moved in late last year and moved out about a month before his death.
Richard Anthony Leman.
Police have also searched several properties in Rangiora in relation to the investigation, including properties at Andrew St and Good St - just a few hundred metres from where Leman’s body was found - and two properties across the road from one another on South Belt in the Southbrook part of the town.
Last week, police were seen using a ground-penetrating radar device at one of the properties.
Leman’s body was found inside his car, parked in a garage in Tyler St, Rangiora, on April 17. Photo / Kurt Bayer
It can also be reported Leman was being managed by Corrections at the time of his death.
Corrections’ acting operations director Toni Stewart confirmed to the Herald that Leman was under their management but was not subject to electronic monitoring.
“To avoid compromising the active police investigation, we are limited in what further information we can provide at this stage.”
Police searching a home in Andrew St, Rangiora, after finding Richard Leman's body in a car. Photo / George Heard.
Leman, 41, had been missing for more than a week, with multiple social media posts shared by his family seeking sightings and information.
On the evening of April 17, a car linked to him was found in a garage in Tyler St, with a man’s body inside.
Police then launched a homicide inquiry, and appealed for sightings of his white Nissan Fuga in the week leading up to his body being discovered.
Armed police in Andrew St, Rangiora, as part of the homicide investigation. Photo / George Heard
Leman was a “proud and devoted father” of his three sons, aged 10 and younger, his family earlier said.
He was also an “adored son”, a “much-loved little brother” and a “doting uncle”.
Before the discovery of his body, Leman’s sister Kim Leman Bennett posted on Facebook that he was last seen at a shopping centre in Rangiora at 8.20pm on April 11.
Leman had been staying in the Sefton and Rangiora area.
“Police have been notified … We have grave concerns for his safety and mental health,” his sister posted.
“Someone out there must know something, we just need to know and want him home.”
Police could be seen with a ground-penetrating radar device at a property in Rangiora. Photo / George Heard
The fact he had not called his mother in more than a week was concerning because he usually spoke to her every day.
