28 Aug 2013

Families struggling over double killing

6:06 am on 28 August 2013

The families of two people killed at a rural South Auckland home say they are struggling to accept the violent deaths of their loved ones.

Glenys Stanton, 47, of Mt Eden, and Trevor Waite, 51, died of gunshot wounds at Mr Waite's Ponga Road home in Papakura sometime between Friday night and Sunday morning.

Family members at a media conference at Counties Manukau Police Station on Tuesday afternoon described Mr Waite and Ms Stanton as kind, caring people and devoted parents.

The police say the two probably met through an outdoor enthusiasts' online group, with a shared interest in hiking and mountain biking.

Detective Inspector Dave Lynch says it is believed the killer knew one or both of the victims.

He says the police are still looking for a murder weapon and began draining a pond on the property on Tuesday afternoon.

Mr Lynch says investigators are still trying to establish the nature of the relationship and how long the pair knew each other. He says it was probably a couple of months.

A friend of Ms Stanton says he can't understand why a bubbly, well-liked person fell victim to such a sinister act.

Daniel Pinkney played music at a Paihia bar Ms Stanton used to own.

He says she will be missed by the community. "She didn't have a bad bone in her body, she was always happy, always laughing."

Mr Pinkney says news of her death is so shocking because she was such popular person and not the sort to be involved in activities that could lead to a sinister end.