Feilding reeling from fourth tragedy

BY MICHELLE DUFF

Teary-eyed and disbelieving Lees Rd residents in Feilding are reeling from the death of three neighbours in an apparent double murder-suicide, while police step up their investigation into the horrific rural tragedy.

Police have been called into Feilding from as far away as the South Island, as officers deal with events.

The officer in charge of Feilding Police Station, Senior Sergeant Nigel Allan, said recent events had placed ''significant demands'' on policing.

''For each of the major events, there has been a period at the start, where we have had concentrate on what we can achieve with a limited resource. Staff have dealt with those situations really well.

Statistically speaking the events of the last few weeks are something which I doubt any long term residents of

Feilding have seen before, and I doubt they will see again,'' he said.

Forty police were working on the Scott Guy investigation, and 10 on yesterday's three deaths, he said.

Officers have been pulled in from as far away as the South Island to work on the cases.

Police found the bodies of a middle-aged couple and an elderly man in a rural property on the outskirts of Feilding about 10.20am yesterday.

It is believed that the bodies lay in the rural Feilding home for two days before a visitor to the house made the gruesome discovery.

Police are yet to identify the victims, but it has been reported that the dead couple may be the home's owners, Deborah Honeyfield, a registered nurse for MidCentral Health, and her partner Desmond Winnie.

However, this morning, officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Sheridan told the Manawatu Standard that those details hadn't been confirmed by the inquiry team.

"We haven't even confirmed any identities yet. We think we know who two of them are, but we haven't been able to identify any of them yet."

Meanwhile police have reassured Feilding residents that there is no risk to their safety after the deaths of three people in an apparent murder-suicide yesterday.

Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Sheridan said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths and there was no risk to public safety.

"I want to reiterate to the community of Feilding that we do not believe we are seeking anyone else in relation to these deaths or that there is any risk to public safety," Mr Sheridan said.

Senior Sergeant Nigel Allan said while police resources had been stretched by recent events they would still be able to protect the rest of the town's residents.

"Recent events have placed significant demands on policing but we have worked incredibly hard to ensure that the quality of service we provide the community is not affected," he said

"We have staff from surrounding areas assisting us with the Scott Guy investigation and yesterday's tragedy which enables us to maintain a focus on day-to-day policing without disruption."

Mr Sheridan said police still had a lot of work to do in the Lees Road investigation.

"The examination of the scene over the next few days will be thorough and methodical," he said.

"We will work hard to remove those who have died from the house today but these situations cannot be rushed."

Police would not be releasing the names of the three people until they had been formally identified.

The couple are believed to have bought the 25-acre lifestyle block only in January, and close neighbours are shocked about the horrific tragedy on their idyllic rural road.

"They were a very nice couple and it's hit me very hard," said one teary-eyed local farmer.

Another neighbour said he'd heard gunshots, but rabbits were often hunted in the area.

The deaths were "chilling" in the wake of the death of Feilding farmer Scott Guy last month.

"I'm just shocked, and can't believe that something else has happened again in a short space of time and everything with the Guy murder, the aeroplane crash, just so much has happened."

Judy Plimmer, whose driveway is about 200 metres from the cordoned house said she had gotten a "terrible shock" when she heard about the horrific incident.

"Absolutely total shock, because there's been so many horrible things happening around Feilding lately, it's just incredibly so close to home."

Mr Sheridan said there was no connection between the three deaths on Lees Rd and Mr Guy's death.

"I understand that the Feilding community will be very upset but I would like to assure them that whilst this is a tragedy, I am confident that there is no risk to the community,"

A team of 12 investigators have gathered in Feilding to start looking into what what happened at the rural Feilding property. Officers from Palmerston North, Feilding, Levin, Hawera and New Plymouth will carry out the investigation.

"Today we hope to get through the scene examination, we have a team coming down from Auckland to look over the scene. As part of that examination, we would like to get the deceased from the scene.

The house today remains cordoned off and Mr Sheridan said it was likely to remain so for a few days.

In the short space of two months, this is the fourth tragedy the Feilding community has had to deal with.

On July 8, Mr Guy was shot dead in the driveway to his home. His killer has not been found.

Flight instructor Jess Neeson and her student, Patricia Smallman, died when the plane they were in collided with another mid-air on July 26.

Earlier this month, Feilding soldier Lieutenant Tim O'Donnell was killed while serving with the New Zealand Army in Afghanistan.

- © Fairfax NZ News