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Home / New Zealand

Dead couple's argument

By John Landrigan
Herald on Sunday·
9 May, 2009 04:00 PM2 mins to read

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A neighbour has described hearing violent arguments in the Christchurch flat where a couple were found dead late on Friday.

The bodies of Tala Seleni, 55, and Melissa Nina Adcock, 32, were discovered on Olliviers Rd, in suburban Linwood, about 5.30pm.

Acting Detective Inspector David Long said detectives were considering
all options but had discovered nothing to suggest anyone else was involved.

Anna O'Connell said Seleni had lived in the Christchurch City Council block for six months and Adcock lived there on and off.

O'Connell said she became concerned after not seeing her friend for three days. She said she last heard him being threatened by Adcock, his partner of three years, during a violent argument on Tuesday night.

"They used violent language," said O'Connell. "I heard her say, 'If you don't sort your shit out, I'm going to get someone to deal with you ...' that was the night they died."

O'Connell found Seleni's bloodied body and called police, who found Adcock.

"The door was open and I walked to the bench and saw the bloody mess," said O'Connell. "I thought 'Yuck, he's been in a fight'."

She said Seleni was clothed and lying under "blood-drenched" bed covers.

The 38-year-old said jealousy may have played a part in the couple's demise.

"She was aggressive towards Seleni, especially when he was talking to other women. She thought there was something going on between him and I."

Seleni regularly attended Grace Vineyard Church and was a doting father who loved his children from a previous relationship.

Other residents were also shocked by the deaths.

One man, who did not want to be named, said he could not stop thinking about the incident.

"I knew the gentleman and spoke to him frequently."

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