By BRIDGET CARTER
Police believe the double stabbing of a young Wellington couple found on the kitchen floor of a Johnsonville home early yesterday was a murder-suicide.
Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Vaughn said the pair, Chanel Renee Lambert, a 21-year-old clerk of Johnsonville, who worked for a Government-based agency, and Lee Arthur Tui Gillard, a 23-year-old woodturner of Newlands, had ended a two-year relationship just weeks ago.
Ms Lambert lived at the house in Sheridan Tce with other male and female flatmates in their 20s.
The two had been out with separate groups of friends on Saturday night, watching the All Black test match against Argentina. Ms Lambent went to a party in Newlands, then to a pub in Johnsonville.
When she arrived home with friends she found Mr Gillard inside the house.
Detective Senior Sergeant Vaughn said an argument followed.
Police would not comment on who stabbed the other but sources said it appeared Mr Gillard had produced a knife.
Ms Lambert's distressed flatmates saw only part of what happened as they rushed to call police.
Detective Senior Sergeant Vaughn said police suspected the stabbing was a murder-suicide. More than one knife was used to inflict injuries and no one else was involved.
He said an autopsy was being held and investigations were continuing.
Next-door neighbour Peter Cross said he did not hear any noise from the house at the time of the stabbing. The house was up a long, tree-lined driveway and hidden by a thick hedge.
He thought Ms Lambert had lived at the 1960s-style house for about six months.
"I have never spoken to either of them," he said.
He described the neighbours as "youngish people minding their own business."
They seemed to live a nocturnal lifestyle.
"I never heard any yelling or shouting or signs of a domestic coming from the house."
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