20 May 2009

Canterbury man admits murdering former partner

3:31 pm on 20 May 2009

A North Canterbury man has admitted murdering his former partner at her home in Waiau.

Ross Fraser, 43, was caught by police nine days after Joanne Thompson was found beaten to death.

Police were alerted to Ms Thompson's death after the couple's two young sons were found wandering outside their Waiau home.

Police say the pair got into a fight after Fraser went to visit his former partner. Ms Thompson died from blunt force trauma to the head and had multiple injuries including knife wounds, a broken nose and eight broken ribs.

Fraser pleaded guilty in Rangiora District Court on Wednesday and was remanded in custody for sentencing at the High Court in Christchurch on 9 July.