The police forensic team have arrived at the property and a scene examination will get underway soon. Photo / George Heard
The police forensic team have arrived at the property and a scene examination will get underway soon. Photo / George Heard
Three children under the age of ten are believed to be the victims found dead in a Timaru house and a woman in hospital is the suspected killer, the Otago Daily Times reports.
Before the three children were found dead, a neighbour heard a bang and then the sounds ofsobbing and moaning at the Timaru house.
Police have launched a homicide investigation.
A fourth person was taken to hospital. The ODT understands the person taken to hospital is a woman and the suspected killer.
Jade Whaley lives next to where the incident took place and said that at about 9.40pm last night she and her husband heard banging, followed by sobbing and moaning.
"We went outside and realised it was coming from the neighbouring property."
There are three units on one side of the Whaley's property and while outside they saw a fellow neighbour speaking to a person at the back unit.
They later found out the neighbour called police, who arrived at 10pm.
Timaru Mayor Nigel Bowen said the community will be devastated by the tragedy.
"Again, unfortunately. It seems that the community has had layers of tragedy with the five young lads that passed away so it's really tough," he said.
He said the area where the incident took place is "just a typical suburb" and relatively quiet.
"I think the community will be thinking, why is it happening to a place like ours?
"There's a lot of pressures on society at the moment, you have to question the support around mental health, are we doing things right in this country? I question that we're probably not."
A witness at the scene who did not want to be named said there was a lone police officer at the scene around 9am.
"They've given him a portaloo and he's got what looks like his lunch in his backpack beside him.
"He's just standing there all day as a site guard from what I understand. If it wasn't for that policeman standing there you wouldn't know anything had happened."
The scene is "just up the road" from the local hospital, they said, and patients are still coming and going as usual.
"I'm guessing that they did all that they had to do last night. Initially, pretty much everyone in town thought it was gang-related, it appears that might not be the case now but that was definitely the first line of response. Everyone is talking about it."
WHERE TO GET HELP:
If you are worried about your or someone else's mental health, the best place to get help is your GP or local mental health provider. However, if you or someone else is in danger or endangering others, call police immediately on 111.
