Woman involved in double homicide had throat injury

The woman found dead in a double homicide in west Auckland on Saturday has been found to have a throat injury.

Detective Senior Sergeant John Sutton of Waitakere CIB said a post mortem examination held today revealed that no weapons had been used.

He said the woman, named today as 41-year-old Denise Shirley Brame of suburban Westmere, had sustained the injury to her throat.

No injuries were found on the body of her former partner, Richard Albert Barnham, 50, who was found dead in a motor vehicle while it was parked in a locked garage.

Detective Senior Sergeant John Sutton said police were not looking for anybody else in connection with the deaths.

Police launched a homicide investigation after the pair's bodies were found at Mr Barnham's home in Kervil Avenue in suburban Te Atatu. Ms Brame's body had been found in a bedroom of the house.

Mr Sutton would not go into the circumstances leading up to the deaths other than to say they were a couple who had recently separated after a 25-year relationship.

"Like any couple that go through a separation there's obviously some sort of difficulty. We intend to leave that as a private matter for their families," he said.

"It is a tragic situation, not only for the two who have passed away but obviously for their family and extended families."

Mr Sutton said the couple had no children.

He said the investigation team would continue working for another two days. A car was seen being towed away from the scene today, and further examinations are expected.

"We will be having further forensic testing completed over the next 10 days and those results along with the police investigation file will be forwarded to the coroner for him or her to give a cause of death."

- NZPA