Burnt woman's husband likely to face murder charge

Davesh Sharma, left, is likely to be charged with the murder of his wife Ranjeeta, far right, who was found burnt to death on the side of a Huntly road last week. Photo / Supplied

Davesh Sharma, the husband of the woman who was found burnt alive near Huntly last week, has returned to New Zealand from Fiji with his four-year-old son and accompanied by New Zealand police officers.

He is likely to be charged with murder.

Police are holding a media conference in relation to the homicide enquiry tomorrow morning.

Mr Sharma flew to Fiji with his four year-old son Akash the day after his wife Ranjeeta Sharma, 28, was found alight on the side of a rural road.

He was brought into police custody on Tuesday.

New Zealand police confirmed today that Sharma and Waikato detectives who had gone to Fiji to interview him were on a flight back to New Zealand.

The flight he was believed to be on landed at Auckland International Airport at around 2.30pm.

3News reported that Mr Sharma was seen going through Customs with police. Akash was being carried by another man of Indian appearance.

Sharma is likely to be charged with murder and to appear in the District Court in Huntly or Hamilton within the next few days.

No one else was being sought over the death of Mrs Sharma.

Fiji Police spokesman Inspector Atunaisa Sokomuri said Mr Sharma left Fiji for New Zealand voluntarily at 11.30am this morning, but was being escorted by New Zealand police.

Mr Sharma's return comes as his wife is farewelled at a service in Fiji today. She is due to be cremated after a funeral at Wailoaloa Cemetery in Nadi at 1pm, the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation reported.

Waikato police have refused to release details about the inquiry, although they confirmed yesterday the man was yet to be charged.

"We are currently evaluating the various options available to us," Detective Senior Sergeant Nigel Keall said.

"Our investigation has been benefiting from the full support of not only the Fijian police, but that of other agencies both over there and back here in New Zealand."

Mr Keall said police were still in discussion with people in relation to the ongoing care and protection of Akash, who is staying with relatives in Fiji.

Police said extradition was "one of the processes that was on the table and will be worked through".

Mr Keall said police were carrying out a variety of inquiries "that are all combining to build up a clearer picture of what has happened."

- with NZPA