Police in London are trying to establish what links murdered prostitute Bridgette MacClennan had with New Zealand.
Body parts belonging to the 34-year-old were found in wheelie bins 10 days ago outside a pub in Camden, north London.
British police said on Monday that Bridgette MacClennan was born in New Zealand, but
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said yesterday that she had never been issued with a New Zealand passport.
Spokesman Brad Tattersfield said staff at the High Commission in London were working with police to find out what links she had with New Zealand.
"It is not clear whether she was in fact a New Zealand citizen," Mr Tattersfield said.
"There is no record of her ever having a New Zealand passport, and I'm not sure whether her parents are New Zealanders."
Bridgette MacClennan is thought to have shifted to England as a teenager and settled in London with her mother, brother and civil servant father, Roderick.
She married Moroccan painter Abdel Amzil in 1994 and had two sons, now aged 8 and 6.
The Times newspaper reported that she turned to drugs after her marriage failed, was evicted from her Camden home, and had been convicted of prostitution.
Mr Tattersfield said British police were expected to interview Bridgette MacClennan's family.
The ministry could have details of her links with New Zealand by the end of the week.
The tramp who found pieces of Bridgette MacClennan also recovered the severed legs of missing prostitute Elizabeth Valad, 29, as he rifled through a bin in Camden.
Elizabeth Valad's torso was found wrapped in a plastic sack at the bedsit of a former Australian, Anthony John Hardy. Police seized a hacksaw, but have yet to find either woman's head, hands or feet.
Hardy, 51, was charged with killing the women before December 31, and a third woman, Sally White, before January 21 last year.
All three women were thought to be prostitutes.
Hardy has also been questioned about the hacked-up remains of two other prostitutes found in England during the past two years.
The Herald has been unable to find any relatives of Bridgette MacClennan in New Zealand.
New Zealand police spokeswoman Sarah Martin said there had been no requests through Interpol to trace relatives.
The unemployed Hardy appeared in court for seven minutes on Monday.
He was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey this coming Monday.
- Staff reporter and agencies
Police in London are trying to establish what links murdered prostitute Bridgette MacClennan had with New Zealand.
Body parts belonging to the 34-year-old were found in wheelie bins 10 days ago outside a pub in Camden, north London.
British police said on Monday that Bridgette MacClennan was born in New Zealand, but
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