Police search co-worker's house in Dunedin homicide inquiry

A person in forensic overalls stands outside the house in Nairn St being searched in connection with the death of a Green Island woman. Photo / ODT staff photographer

A house in Kaikorai belonging to the co-worker of woman who was killed in Dunedin last week has been searched by police.

Police have released the name of Karin Ann Ross, of Green Island, and confirmed her death is being treated as a homicide.

About 30 police and specialist staff were working on the investigation, police spokesman Nic Barkley said.

Mr Barkley declined to comment about why police were searching the Nairn St home of the co-worker.

The name of the 51-year-old was released after a postmortem and detailed scene investigation of the Strathallan St car park at Spotless cleaning services where her body was found last Wednesday about 2am.

A death notice said Ms Ross had two children, and a partner, Richard.

A work colleague, who declined to be named, said Ms Ross was a "really great team leader".

"Her team loved her."

The long-serving employee was "one of those straight talking people".

"Staff knew where they were with her.

"She was a wonderful person.

"She worked hard for her kids."

Cleaning staff were feeling traumatised and stressed, the worker said.

"There isn't anything bad you could ever say about Karin."

A tarpaulin tent was erected on the lawn in front of the Nairn St house.

Reports suggested police arrived there late Friday afternoon.

The house was closely guarded by security guards throughout the weekend as police staff carried out their work.

Mr Barkley said the house was "one of many sites of interest".

Mr Barkley could not say how the house was connected to the investigation, or how long the scene examination would take.

Spotless Group general manager Ross Maclean, of Wellington, said an Australia-based spokeswoman would issue a statement about the death. Despite efforts to contact the spokeswoman, no statement was received.

Police want to speak with anyone who was around Strathallan St between midnight and 2am last Wednesday, including shift workers who noticed anything unusual.

Extra police have been brought in to Dunedin to help, given the demands of a homicide investigation and police inquiries involving two other other recent crimes.

And security guards have been helping to secure a scene linked to the homicide investigation.

Asked if the homicide and two other recent incidents involving attacks on women in the city was putting a strain on police resources, police said staff had been brought in from Invercargill and Christchurch to help.

Dunedin police were busy but were coping, and bringing in extra staff was a standard part of police work, as was the use of security guards, given the circumstances, police said.