Woman killed during row at party

A policeman secures the house where a woman was murdered. Photo / Steven McNicholl

A woman was heard yelling, "I wasn't dating you anyway", at a 40th birthday party before police arrived at the function where a 29-year-old had been murdered.

Detectives launched a homicide inquiry after the woman's body was found at a house in Glenveagh Park Drive in the Manukau City suburb of Manurewa about 12.05am yesterday.

They were called to reports of an altercation at the party, held on a property down a long driveway.

A 32-year-old woman was arrested near the address. She has been charged with assaulting the woman - who is believed to have been stabbed - and will appear in the Manukau District Court today.

Police said they are not seeking anyone else in relation to the death.

A number of partygoers were also arrested for obstructing police.

The dead woman did not live at the property but police would not reveal her relationship with the arrested woman.

TV3 said Child, Youth and Family staff were called and about six children and two teenagers were taken from the house.

Neighbours said the residents of the house often had loud parties.

One woman, who did not want to be named, said she heard a woman screaming "I didn't do it" and "I wasn't dating you anyway" about midnight.

She then heard someone slam a car door and a man's voice telling someone to "get out of the car".

It sounded as though someone was jumping on the car roof and people were yelling, "Get off the car".

Sirens from several police cars followed soon after.

The woman said she had heard partygoers singing Happy Birthday earlier in the day. Young children had been coming and going from the property.

"You always hear them smashing things. Every time they have a party, you know they're going to end up fighting. There is lots of swearing. You can hardly understand it most of the time; it's just swearing."

Another resident, Trent Galiki, had gone outside to feed his cats when he heard women screaming.

"I thought it must have been straight outside my house because it was so loud but when I went outside it was further up.

"A minute later, a bunch of police cars arrived. I knew straight away something bad had happened."

Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Al Simons said 25 to 30 people were at the house when officers arrived. Police want to hear from anyone at the house who has not yet been spoken to.

The dead woman will be named once next of kin have been notified.

A post-mortem examination is expected to be held today.

Police were also kept busy after an armed gang, carrying a sawn-off double-barrelled shotgun, burst into a house in Nola Cres, Otara, at 2.15am and beat up the occupant before fleeing.

No shots were fired. The victim was taken to hospital. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

The armed offenders squad cordoned off several streets and a man was taken into custody and a weapon seized.

But police said they were still searching for two other people.

* Anyone with any information is being urged to phone Counties Manukau police on (09) 261-1300.