Killer of Beverly Bouma dies in prison

The man who killed Beverly Bouma at her Reporoa farm in 1998 has died.

David Tuhua Poumako, aged 27, reportedly died of natural cases at Auckland prison at Paremoremo.

Poumako killed Mrs Bouma, a 45-year-old mother of three, while he and three other men terrorised her husband and daughter during a home invasion robbery on November 30, 1998

Mrs Bouma's husband, Henk, found her naked and bloody body in their daughter's bedroom after the intruders had left.

Poumako pleaded guilty to murder on the third of his trial. His three accomplices - Dillon Hitaua, then aged 23, Mark Reihana, 17, and his brother Luke Reihana, 16 - pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

The circumstances of Poumako's death will be examined by the Department and a coroner's inquest will be held.