Relatives overseas to be told of teen's guilty plea

Doreen Reed's body was found by friends.

The elderly brother and sister of a 77-year-old Auckland woman stabbed to death by a 15-year-old youth were to get some good news overnight.

Police were preparing how to best tell the 95-year-old man in England and his 87-year-old sister in South Africa that the teenager had admitted murdering their sister Doreen Reed.

The youth admitted murder at his third appearance in North Shore Youth Court today.

He was charged after the body of Mrs Reed was found in her home in the North Shore suburb of Birkdale on January 14. She had multiple stab wounds, many of which pierced vital organs.

Yesterday he gave the first indication he would admit the charge, said Detective Sergeant Scott Watson.

He said the victim impact statements were still being sought from relatives overseas.

"It is just a matter in the next couple of days of speaking to the family."

He said he could not speak on behalf of the family but police expected them to get some relief from the guilty plea.

The accused youth cannot be named because he appeared in the Youth Court but that could change when he appears in the High Court in Auckland in June to be sentenced.

He was denied bail in January when he first appeared after Judge Laurence Ryan said he feared he would commit more crimes it he was allowed out.

At his first appearance on the murder charge his parents and three brothers were in the public gallery.

At first he remained composed and passive in the dock but began to cry silently, wiping away tears with tissues given to him a court security officer half way through the hearing.

After the hearing his parents refused to answer questions.

- NZPA