KEY POINTS:
A south Auckland couple is likely to face murder or manslaughter charges after a woman's body was wrapped in bed linen, weighed down with a rock and thrown into a south Auckland river.
In a breakthrough today police identified the woman as Patricia Joseph, 37, from Otara, and
charged two people with offering an indignity to a human body.
They confirmed she did not die from natural causes and may have been dead for several days before she was dumped in the river. Police also said more serious charges would probably be laid.
The couple briefly appeared in Manukau District Court today and were remanded in custody until February 7.
They were granted interim name suppression.
Both were wearing police issue boiler suits. The man stood quietly and showed no emotion, while the woman looked downcast.
Ms Joseph's decomposing body was found in the Wairoa River near Clevedon south east of Auckland on January 20.
Yesterday police went back to the area where she was discovered semi submerged by two kayakers and found other items which led to her identity.
Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Gutry said today Ms Joseph lived at the same Otara address as the couple in court.
When she was found she was wearing incontinence pants and police said they would examining her medical records to try and determine her mental state before she died.
"Initial indications are that she did have mental health concerns."
Mr Gutry said although they found items at the scene which led to her identity, the police had received a lot of public help.
"We are feeling very good that we have been able to identify this woman and offer her some dignity in her death."
Today police searched the couple's Otara house "where the activity may have taken place.
"But obviously it will be some days before we have a full picture of exactly what took place."
He also said the inquiry would look at whether the woman had a history of physical abuse before she died.
He was asked if murder or manslaughter charges would be laid.
"It is likely there will be charges along those lines."
Mr Gutry said they now knew how Ms Joseph died and when she was put into the river but would not comment because the matter was before the court and details would emerge in court.
He said the items which were found and which identified the woman were found some distance from where her body was found.
He said it was too early to say if a weapon had been found but police were not looking for anyone else.
- NZPA
