Monday, October 8, 2018
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A forensic tent pitched at the scene of an unexplained death in Methven.
Methven death ‘unexplained’ BY KATIE TODD
KATIE.T@THEGUARDIAN.CO.NZ
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PHOTO HEATHER MACKENZIE 071018-HM-0128
A police cordon and a forensics tent remain outside Our Lady of the Snows Parish, Methven, as police continue to investigate the death of a woman. Emergency services were called to the Main Street address at 9.30am on Saturday morning, where police later announced that a woman in her thirties had died. They described the death as “unexplained”. Police are yet to formally name the woman in her thirties, thought to be a local mother, or confirm the circumstances around her death. However, Area Commander for MidSouth Canterbury Inspector Dave Gaskin said he wants to reassure the community that there is no danger to the public following this incident.
Other media outlets have chosen to name the deceased, but out of respect the Guardian has chosen not to until formal identification is complete. Officers were seen working at the scene throughout Saturday and Sunday. Behind a white cordon, masked officers in white suits were examining a house next to the church. Tents and police vehicles have also taken residence in the driveway around the church. Police have carried out a post-mortem, and advised that the scene examination would be continuing today. The Sunday morning church service at Our Lady of the Snows Parish was relocated to the Mt Hutt Memorial Hall. Parishioners were advised via email, and from a police officer at the gate, that they were unable to enter the area. Viv Barrett of Our Lady of the Snows
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Parish said the service was a fairy sombre affair. “Everyone was pretty sad. Somebody has died and we don’t know why,” he said. Our Lady of the Snows School is located behind the church, but it is understood that the classrooms can still be accessed. Around 30 primary students are enrolled there, and will be on school holidays for the remainder of this week. Board of trustees chairperson Deidra O’Shea said the school would keep parents informed if there were concerns about access. “We haven’t heard from police yet, but at this stage we haven’t needed to,” she said. Police investigators and forensic support are expected to remain at the scene over the next few days.
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