Unexplained death hinges on post mortem

May 5 - An investigation into the unexplained death of a young woman whose body was found at a Balclutha jetty will hinge on the results of a post mortem exam today, police say.

The body of the woman in her 20s was found at a jetty on the banks of the Clutha River, near View St, about 9am yesterday.

Police said the circumstances in which she died were unexplained and a post mortem would be carried out in Dunedin today.

Senior Sergeant Richard Whitmore of Balclutha police said more would be known by this afternoon after the post mortem was complete.

``At this stage we'll be awaiting the results of the PM (post mortem). It will determine the direction of the investigation,'' he told APNZ.

Mr Whitmore said police were today continuing a scene examination.

More than a dozen police staff from Balclutha and Dunedin were yesterday involved in the riverbank search or interviewing those working or living in the area.

Police cordoned off a section of the riverbank about 500m long, as officers in blue or white overalls spent the morning and most of the afternoon combing the jetty and surrounding area.

The woman's name is yet to be released.

- Otago Daily times