UPDATED: A Wairoa woman has been charged with manslaughter following the death of a Napier mother of three.
The 52-year-old woman, who has interim name suppression, appeared in the Napier District Court today following an ongoing investigation into the death of 70-year-old Aileen MacDonald.
Detective Sergeant Darren Pritchard said police and ambulance services were called to an Onekawa address in Napier on December 28.
Mrs MacDonald was found with a number of injuries and subsequently passed away in the Hawke's Bay hospital three days later.
Mr Pritchard said that an arrest had been made early in the investigation. The woman previously appeared in Hastings District Court on December 30 on a charge of assault, the charge was dropped today.
"We have made significant progress in this matter and have now charged this woman with manslaughter," Mr Pritchard said.
The accused was remanded on bail until her next court appearance at the High Court in Napier on February 3. Police did not oppose bail.
An application to photograph the woman in court by Hawke's Bay Today was declined as the court permitted the 52-year-old more time to notify her family of the updated charge.
POLICE INVESTIGATIONS LAUNCHED
Police have launched two separate investigations into the deaths of a man in Woodville and a 70-year-old woman in Napier.
Forensic specialists are working to establish how the Woodville man died as accounts of a violent crime emerge.
This follows the suspicious death of a Napier mother of three which came a day after another woman was charged with assaulting her.
The Woodville man, believed to be in his late 40s, died on Sunday afternoon and a guard protected the Ormond St crime scene overnight as police began a homicide investigation yesterday.
A police spokeswoman said officers were talking to several people of interest but had made no arrests.
"Obviously, it's been less than 24 hours since the incident so our main priority is to determine how he has died."
She would not speculate on the cause of death until the post-mortem results were returned, despite claims the death was a drug-related crime and involved several people. The man's body was removed from the property about 3pm yesterday, before being transported to Palmerston North Hospital where a post-mortem examination will be conducted today.
A local Kaumatua performed a blessing and said a karakia at the property while the body was being removed.
Police were working with the family to formally identify the man.
The scene examination is expected to continue for the next 24 to 48 hours as police take witness statements and complete a canvass of the area.
The house is also understood to have been the scene of an incident on October 23 last year. A man was stabbed in his abdomen and face, while another man suffered knife wounds to his hand.
A team of 20 police staff, including officers from Wanganui and Taranaki, are working on the inquiry.
Central District Crime Manager Acting Detective Inspector Dave Kirby said: "We are in an information gathering phase at this stage and I am confident that we will have a clearer picture of the circumstances that led up to the man's death in the coming days.
"Officers are continuing to speak to residents at neighbouring properties as well as witnesses and persons of interest.
"We are aware that a number of people had been at the Ormond Street property earlier that afternoon and I strongly encourage anyone that saw any activity at the address, including descriptions of people and any vehicles to contact police."
Police said the name of the man would not be released until formal ID and the post-mortem had been completed.
Meanwhile, Hawke's Bay CIB Detective Senior Sergeant Darren Pritchard said police were continuing to investigate the death of the 70-year-old woman after an assault in Napier on December 28.
The great grandmother later died on December 31 with her relatives by her side, the family said in a tribute.
A funeral for the "much loved and cherished wife ... and companion" who was "loved by her sisters, nieces and nephews" was held on January 3.
"Never to be forgotten and in our hearts forever," the family said.
Police arrested and charged a 52-year-old woman from Wairoa with common assault as a result of the incident.
On December 30, one day before the grandmother died, the accused appeared at the Hastings District Court where she was granted interim name suppression until the matter is next heard later this month.
Hawke's Bay Today understands further details regarding the case are expected to be released by police today.