Family left in 'safe care of friend'

Husband and father Dev Sangha is supported by family and friends outside Auckland Central police station. Photo / Dean Purcell

Dev Sangha left his wife and child in the safe care of a man who has been charged with murder, a friend said yesterday.

Mr Sangha was on a business trip to India when police found the bodies of his wife Ravjeet and their 26-month-old daughter Anna in their Otumoetai home at the weekend.

A 23-year-old man who is "associated with the address" has been charged with the murder of Ravjeet Sangha and is to appear in the Tauranga District Court tomorrow.

Police said further charges were likely.

Daljit Singh, a spokesman for the family, said the accused was a man they trusted completely.

"This was the reason why he went to India, because he felt his wife and daughter were safe in his care ... they just could never believe he could do something like that."

The Tauranga taxi driver arrived back from India yesterday and was met at Auckland airport by his mother Swaran Kaur, older brother Harvinder Sangha and work colleagues.

He spent several hours talking to police about his wife and daughter's deaths, breaking down soon after leaving Auckland Central police station.

He was helped by friends into a waiting taxi.

Daljit Singh said the young father was overwhelmed with grief.

"He can't even actually talk," said Mr Singh. "He can't actually believe that that can happen to him. He can only say that he's in very deep shock.

"Dev said he's lost everything. His wife is gone, his child is gone.

"He's very grieved and the family is so in shock and the community all over in New Zealand are also in deep shock."

Mrs Sangha's body was found in their Otumoetai home on Sunday after a tip-off to Counties Manukau police.

Search and rescue teams scoured the surrounding area for Anna but police found her body - 20 hours later - in a concealed place within the house.

Mr Singh said pathologists completed the post-mortem examination on Mrs Sangha's body yesterday and were to perform an examination on Anna's body today.

Mr Sangha will then see his wife and child for the first time since his return.

He is likely to make the arrangements for their funerals, which will probably be held in Tauranga later this week, allowing time for Mrs Sangha's relatives in India to come.

It is understood the 23-year-old man who has been charged had been studying business in Auckland and was seeking permanent residence in New Zealand.

Neighbour Graeme Allen said he last saw Mrs Sangha hanging some washing out on Saturday as Anna ran around on the back lawn.

Police would not say where the toddler's body was found in the Otumoetai house, if there were signs of a struggle or if a weapon was found at the scene.