Abigail Dougherty/Stuff
Police cordon a property on Taraire St in Kaikohe, where a woman died after a home invasion on Thursday night.
- 71-year-old Kaikohe woman Linda Woods was killed on Thursday night during a home invasion.
- DNA has been retrieved from the scene, which police believe is linked to the alleged offender.
- Items of clothing were left behind.
- Police now plan to request DNA samples from men fitting the alleged offender’s description: a solidly built Māori or Polynesian man aged 40-60.
Police have collected DNA from the crime scene at the heart of the investigation into the killing of a woman in Kaikohe.
They believe the DNA is that of the alleged offender.
“Police are now making plans to request DNA samples from men who fit the age range and description of the offender so we can eliminate them from our inquiries,” said Northland CIB detective inspector Rhys Johnston.
Early on Friday a homicide investigation was launched and inquiries were under way after the death of 71-year-old pensioner Linda Woods in Kaikohe, in the Far North District.
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Police were called to a home in Taraire St at 11.41pm on Thursday after reports an intruder was found inside the property.
Johnston said the DNA was a “significant piece of evidence”, and that will allow police to begin a new phase of our investigation,” says
“We are determined to find this offender so we can get some answers for the victim’s family, and put the community’s minds at rest.
Abigail Dougherty/Stuff
Police cordon a property on Taraire St in Kaikohe where a woman died after a home invasion on Thursday night.
The offender was discovered hiding in one of the occupant’s bedrooms, police said.
Police earlier said Woods was attempting to intervene to assist her family members when she was killed.
She shared the home with four generations of her whānau, all of whom are female, including, it’s understood, her grandchildren.
A pair of jean shorts and size 13 shoes were left at the house.
A still from a video of the alleged offender was also released by police on Sunday.
Police said the video was very short and only captures the person from behind, however from the still image you can get a good impression of their age, build and the style of his upper clothing.
The person is described as an older man, aged 40-60, with short, grey-speckled, possibly curly hair, Māori or Polynesian and with a solid build.
