Police are no longer treating the death of a Mangere woman as a homicide and say animals at the address probably caused the horrific injuries to her head after she died.
Police launched a homicide inquiry this morning after the 38-year-old woman's body was found outside a house in Mangere.
But this afternoon Detective Senior Sergeant Gary Lendrum said a post mortem examination revealed the woman had died of natural causes. It appeared animals at the address probably caused the "horrific" injuries to her head after she died.
The matter would continue to be investigated and referred to the coroner.
A number of dogs had been taken from the address, he said.
Police were called to the Court Town Close home about 12.30am this morning when one of the woman's sons returned home.
They found the dead woman lying outside the address.
Mr Lendrum said another son, aged nine, was asleep in the house. He had been interviewed by police but could provide little helpful information.
The woman had been identified but she had a large extended family and her name would not be released until they had been told.
He said police were not speaking to anyone and no one other than the son who called the police, was at the scene when they arrived.
- NZPA
Woman’s body found outside Mangere house
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