Slain woman second student to meet violent death

Karen Cynthia Oakes is the second student from Wintec's sports and exercise science degree course to meet a violent death in the past five months.

The 28-year-old mother of three's body was found by ambulance officers in the garage of her Ashurst Ave, Hamilton, home on Saturday.

Her partner, Alexander Ryan, 35, was charged with her murder the same day and was remanded in custody without plea until January 4.

The body of Ms Oakes' classmate, Brendan Rodwell Tahau, 26, who was on the same second-year degree course, was found in a Rotorua house in August.

He was stabbed to death, apparently after an argument.

Two Rotorua Black Power associates have been charged with his murder.

Other Wintec classmates say both Ms Oakes and Mr Tahau were excellent students who got on well with their younger classmates and seemed determined to graduate from the three-year course.

Ms Oakes' father, Gary, said yesterday that his daughter loved sport, particularly aerobics, and had hoped to become an aerobics instructor.

Family members were caring for her children, aged 5, 3 and 9 months.

- NZPA