Last days of a devoted mother

When Tony Wilson said goodbye to his daughter on December 14, he could not have imagined the horrific fate that awaited her.

The 24-year-old, who has name suppression, had been staying at her father's Christchurch home and told him she was going to Timaru and would be home about 11pm. She never returned.

"I was the last of her relations to see her alive," Mr Wilson told the Herald.

The following day her body was found, partially clothed and wrists bound, in the mud on the banks of the Avon River. It is alleged the woman, a prostitute, was repeatedly run over by a car in a Christchurch car park before being pulled into the car and dumped in the river.

Mr Wilson said it was not until two days after he said goodbye to his daughter that he found out what had happened to her. Police had not been able to reach him.

"I came home and rang my mother-in-law and asked if she had seen her. She said it was the girl that was killed [pictured in the local newspaper]. I said, 'You're having me on'. She said, 'Somebody will be around to see you shortly'."

A 29-year-old man has been charged with kidnapping, rape and murder and is being held in custody while a psychiatric report is completed. His name is suppressed. The man also faces charges of rape and abduction in relation to another incident.

Judge Phil Moran yesterday lifted the name suppression preventing publication of Ms Wilson's name, although it was reinstated later.

Although she struggled with drug addiction, the woman will be remembered as a strong-minded person who loved her family, was great with animals, loved to read and wanted to turn her life around.

"She was always good to her family, good to her daughter, good to me. She always had a lot of friends," Mr Wilson said.

She was devoted to her daughter who will turn 4 on Tuesday.

"She used to spend a lot of time at her daughter's kindergarten, or kohanga reo. She used to spend three or four days a week out there."

Mr Wilson said his daughter wanted to turn her life around. Papers she had left at his home included information on drug rehabilitation and applications for gym memberships.

"In the last few days she was telling me how she was clear of drugs.

"She had a go at a lot of things. She had a go at skating, she even had a go at a modelling course."

Editor's Note: The name of the deceased has been removed from this article, despite appearing in the original publication, due to name suppression orders by the courts.