Taupo murder: Accused and victim named

The scene of the alleged murder. Photo / Alan Gibson

A woman found dead at her Taupo home last night has been named, after the man accused of murdering her appeared in court this afternoon.

The accused is Martin Cranswick Schofield, 49.

47-year-old Katrina Rose Drummond was found dead in her Elizabeth St home after Schofield went to the police station last night to report an incident at the address.

In the Rotorua District Court this morning, Judge Phillip Cooper suppressed the identifies of both Schofield and Ms Drummond. However this afternoon he vacated that order.

Workmates of Ms Drummond - who was found dead in her Taupo home - are devastated at her death, her boss says.

The scene of the alleged murder in Taupo. Photo / Alan Gibson

Ms Drummond was discovered by police at 5.45pm yesterday after a man came to the station to report an incident at an Elizabeth Street home.

The general manager of the business where the woman worked said staff were in shock at the news.

"It's a very big shock to all of us here and I have some very, very upset staff."

The staff had "nothing but respect for her", she said.

"We're all devastated actually.

"It's very sad that this should happen to such a sweet, happy, joyful person to work with.
"She didn't have a mean bone in her body.

"We only saw kindness from her."

A post mortem examination will be carried out today to determine the cause of death.