30 Sep 2019

Christchurch murder-suicide a tragedy - police

From Checkpoint, 5:22 pm on 30 September 2019

Police have described the death of an elderly couple found dead in their Christchurch home in a suspected murder suicide as an absolute tragedy.

They received a call at 4am from an elderly man who threatened self-harm and said he possessed a firearm.

After the caller gave his address the line went silent, and then police heard a loud bang.

When the armed offenders squad and the police negotiation team arrived at the Burnside house, they found an elderly man and woman lying dead on their bed, next to a gun.

Eleisha Foon reports.