Victims' family pleads for clues to killings

By ALISON HORWOOD

Relatives of Palmerston North murder victims Christine and Amber Lundy have made a heart-felt plea for anyone who knows the killer to come forward.

Maria Norrelle said the family's worst fear was that they would never know what happened to Mrs Lundy, aged 38, and her only child, Amber, aged 7.

Biting back tears, Ms Norrelle, a sister-in-law of Mrs Lundy, told a press conference: "We are here to make an appeal. There must be at least one person out there who knows who killed them and their life must be a living hell.

"It does not matter how small or insignificant it seems, come to the police. Our greatest fear is never having any idea of how Christine and Amber died."

The pair were slaughtered with an axe-like weapon in their home in the quiet Palmerston North suburb of Kelvin Grove.

Yesterday a pile of fresh flowers had gathered outside the house as police and forensic scientists continued to gather evidence behind a cordon.

There are 40 staff working on the double-homicide, and all officers who were involved with removing the bodies or working inside the crime scene have been given trauma counselling.

Detective Sergeant Peter Rollinson said the time of death had not been narrowed down, but was between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning last week.

Funeral notices from the family pinpoint the date to Tuesday.

Amber, a year-two pupil at Roslyn School, rang her father, Mark Lundy, in Wellington on Tuesday evening before she went to bed. At 9.30 the next morning, a relative found the pair in the bedroom area of the house with horrific head injuries.

Police will not be specific about the weapon, but Detective Sergeant Rollinson said yesterday that it was "a reasonably heavy item with a sharp edge on at least part of it. It may have a handle of some sort."

He said anyone who finds an item of that description should contact the police immediately. The investigation team can be contacted on 0800 679 468.

Police said earlier that there did not appear to be an obvious motive for the killings. Initial pathology results indicated the pair had not been the victims of a sex attack, and although it was too early to tell, there were no obvious signs of a break-in or robbery.

Detective Sergeant Rollinson said Mr Lundy, a 43-year-old businessman, stayed overnight in a Wellington motel on Tuesday.

"We have not completely finalised that, but we have no reason to have any concerns about him as a suspect."

A service will be held today at St Peter's Anglican Church in Palmerston North.

Police have set up an 0800 phone line to take information from the public. The number is 0800 679 468.