Trio's deaths suspected to be murder-suicide

A visitor to the lifestyle block in Lees Rd, on the outskirts of Feilding, called police to the farmhouse. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Three people killed in an apparent murder-suicide near Feilding may have lain dead for more than two days before being discovered, it emerged last night.

The deaths of the three, including a middle-aged couple, are the latest in a string of tragedies to hit the Manawatu town.

Police arrived at a home in Lees Rd, on the outskirts of Feilding, mid-morning yesterday after being called by a visitor to the property.

Inside, they found the bodies of the couple and an elderly man. There were earlier reports of gunshots at the property, but police have yet to comment on how the trio died.

Police had not publicly identified the victims last night.

The Herald understands the couple living at the house were Deborah Honeyfield, a registered nurse for MidCentral Health, and her partner, Desmond Winnie, who is listed on the electoral roll as a technician.

Late last night, Mr Winnie's sister Lynda was in shock that her brother might be dead.

She said police had not been in contact with her, and she pleaded with the Herald for help to confirm that he was among the victims.

She said he was stone deaf and had "hermitised" himself away from the world. "But he's still my brother."

She had not spoken to him for years but thought he was happy with Ms Honeyfield, "the love of his life".

He was one of six children who grew up in Lower Hutt. He had had two failed marriages.

Local residents said the occupants of the property - a lifestyle block of about 20 hectares - had moved in a few months ago, and a man had been regularly tidying up the property.

It is unclear how long the three had been dead, but the Herald understands a Saturday newspaper had not been collected from the mailbox.

Council staff were seen removing chickens from the property yesterday, and the house remained cordoned off last night.

Though police have said they are not seeking anyone else in connection with the killings, the tragedy has left locals unsettled.

"We don't know if it was a homicide or whether it was a suicide or what the hell it was," said contractor Christopher Beattie, who lives down the road.

"I wouldn't be surprised if one or two people started parking shotguns under their bed."

Resident Clem Pedley said the occupants of the Lees Rd property had appeared "busy settling in, making sheepyards. They're just typical people going about their daily life."

Sandy Coombs, who lives opposite the property, said she had seen a man on a bike who lived there, but did not know anything else of the recent arrivals.

Neighbour Geoffrey Sedcole was prepared to wait for answers to the deaths. "Until the full story comes out, I am not drawing any conclusions."

Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Sheridan said that while police were keeping an open mind on the case, they were not looking for anyone else.

A scene examination was expected to take a few days, and post-mortem examinations would be carried out.

Mr Sheridan also moved to dispel any fears of a connection between the murder of dairy farmer Scott Guy and the Lees Rd deaths.

"I understand that the Feilding community will be very upset, but I would like to assure them that whilst this is a tragedy, I am confident that there is no risk to the community."