'House of horrors' murderer had sex with dead victims

Jason Somerville admitted killing his wife Rebecca Chamberlain (top left) and neighbour Tisha Lowry. Photos / Simon Baker, supplied

A man who has admitted murdering two women and burying their bodies beneath his house had sex with both victims after killing them.

In Christchurch District Court this morning, Jason Paul Somerville, 33, admitted killing his wife Rebecca Chamberlain, 35, and neighbour Tisha Lowry, 28.

Police found the women's bodies under Somerville's Wainoni house in early September. Tisha Lowry was murdered in September 2008 after she disappeared while walking home. Rebecca Chamberlain was killed on August 30, 2009.

The summary of facts in the case says that Ms Lowry knew Somerville and went to his home between 10.50am and 12.30pm on Thursday September 25, 2008.

This was two houses from where Ms Lowry was living with her grandfather.

Ms Lowry had previously been to the home of Somerville and his wife, Rebecca Chamberlain.

Police say Somerville was home alone and answered a knock on his front door.

He opened the door to find Ms Lowry standing there and invited her inside.

"Once inside the address a struggle has taken place, [Somerville] grabbed Tisha around her throat with his hands."

Ms Lowry struggled with Somerville, kicking and punching him, but he tightened his stranglehold.

"[Somerville] increased the pressure of the strangle to a point where the victim was no longer resisting and had lost consciousness. [Somerville] continued to squeeze her throat until he was certain she was no longer breathing," the summary of facts states.

He then forced a pair of his wife's underpants into Ms Lowry's throat, before removing her jeans and underwear and having sex with her.

Somerville was due to attend a meeting early that afternoon. Being short on time, he left the body of Ms Lowry lying on the floor of the cupboard under the stairs of his house.

He returned about an hour later with the knowledge that his wife was shortly due home. He removed the manhole cover on the floor of the stairwell cupboard, which led beneath the house.

Somerville dragged Ms Lowry's body and lowered her through the manhole and left her lying semi-naked under the house before putting the cover back over the manhole and cleaning the house in anticipation of his wife's return.