Police begin review of burial case

Tasman police have begun a review of a burial case in Marlborough after a family complained to the Police Minister about the handling of the investigation.

Rose Arbuckle's body was exhumed on May 6 last year from Upper Wairau Cemetery after her family sought consent to do so, acting on concerns they had about the burial. Blenheim CIB began a police investigation the same day, but later decided against laying charges.

Tasman police manager of crime and operations Detective Inspector John Winter said the complaint to Police Minister George Hawkins was handed on to him on Friday and he had called for the Blenheim police file to review.

The complaint, made by a member of Mrs Arbuckle's family, concerned the actions of individuals, and the handling of the inquiry by Blenheim police, he said.

Mr Winter, who is also acting district commander, said the case was being reviewed by Tasman police for transparency and once complete, the report would go to the police minister.

Last month Mrs Arbuckle's husband Dale expressed alarm at the way his wife was buried in January last year after she died from blood clots on her lungs.

The family had engaged Geoffrey T Sowman Funeral Directors in Blenheim to conduct the funeral, and Sowmans sub-contracted another Marlborough company to dig the plot and fill in the grave.

Sowmans admitted that Mrs Arbuckle's casket may have been damaged during her burial, because of problems which arose from a large boulder protruding into the grave, but they rejected other allegations made.

Manager Ken Rooney said at the time that the geology of the Upper Wairau Cemetery, which dates from 1875, could cause problems with graves, and to avoid such difficulties happening again, Sowmans intended to call for a meeting with the cemetery administrators, Blenheim funeral directors and sub-contractors who dig and fill graves.

Blenheim CIB head Detective Sergeant John Hamilton said he was confident Blenheim detectives had done a "more than thorough job" in investigating the case.

He was surprised a complaint had been made to the police minister by the family, saying that after speaking to Mr Arbuckle, he understood the family were satisfied with the police efforts and response.

Mr Hamilton said police legal advisers reviewed the Blenheim police file on the Arbuckle case and recommended that no charges be laid as the evidence fell short of taking it into the criminal court, which reinforced the view of Blenheim detectives.

Mr Arbuckle would not comment on the review or Mr Hamilton's statements. He has previously said that his lawyers were looking at the case. A representative of the funeral director was unavailable for comment.

- NZPA