Death ends manhunt for attacker

Where the woman's body was found in Kumutoto Lane. Photo / Anthony Phelps

The death of a man has ended a police search for the attacker of a young woman assaulted in central Wellington late on Friday.

The woman was found by a passerby shortly after midnight yesterday, bleeding and unconscious, in Kumutoto Lane, just off The Terrace.

The search for her attacker was called off after Upper Hutt police attended an incident involving the sudden death of a 30-year-old Wellington man later yesterday morning. The man was found in a vehicle.

The man and woman knew each other through their respective partners. Neither of their names were released last night because police were still informing their families.

Asked if it was an attempted murder-suicide, Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Borrell, of Wellington police, said he couldn't comment because the matter was before the Coroner's court.

"We're not looking for anyone else in relation to his death, it's not suspicious," he said.

"And now we're not looking for anyone in relation with the attack. You can read between the lines here."

He said police did not believe a weapon was used in the attack on the woman, whose skull was fractured and vertebrae were displaced.

Last night she was in Wellington Hospital in a serious but stable condition, and was expected to make a full recovery.

Police wanted to reassure residents there was no offender on the loose.