3 Oct 2010

Police continue work at Waitakere burial site

10:04 pm on 3 October 2010

Police investigating the death of Auckland woman Carmen Thomas continued to work at the scene in the Waitakere Ranges on Sunday where they say her remains were buried in a crude grave.

The 32-year-old was last seen on 27 June. Police believe she was killed in her home in Ngapuhi Road, Remuera, and her body dismembered.

Police on Saturday removed what they believe are Ms Thomas' remains from the burial site.

A policeman in a patrol car was stationed at the beginning of a track where the remains were uncovered on Sunday, and police continued to examine the site.

Police said the post-mortem for the remains would take place either later on Sunday or on Monday and was likely to take several days to complete.

Ms Thomas' former partner, Brad Callaghan, has been charged with her murder.

Money raised for Thomas family travel costs

A South African woman living in Auckland says she has raised enough money to fly Carmen Thomas' mother to New Zealand.

Donna Baker says there's enough money in the fund she set up to pay for airfares from South Africa, with about $300 left over which would go to Ms Thomas' son, Jack.

She says Ms Thomas' family have indicated they'll accept the assistance, but have not been in touch to confirm travel dates.

Ms Baker says she was inspired to set up the fund because, like Ms Thomas, she was a South African mother living in New Zealand.