Two men have been arrested and charged over the death of Rotorua grandmother Sharlene Smith, whose body was discovered in Hastings earlier this month.
According to a report by 1News, the 64-year-old was found at a worksite on Taihape Rd in Omahu on February 3, sparking a police investigation. Officers earlier described her as a “much-loved mother, grandmother and sister”.
Police said today that two men from Napier, aged 47 and 45, have now been taken into custody.
The 47-year-old faces charges of murder and injuring with intent and is scheduled to appear in the Napier District Court tomorrow.
The 45-year-old has been charged with being an accessory after the fact to a culpable homicide. He has already appeared in court and was remanded on bail to reappear on March 4. He is also facing three separate domestic violence-related charges that are not linked to Smith’s death, 1News has reported.
Detective Inspector Martin James said the arrests should provide some reassurance to Smith’s family and the wider community.
“It’s been 24 days since Sharlene’s body was found and, for our busy team to have achieved this result so promptly, [this] should reassure the community we take these significant incidents incredibly seriously,” he said, as quoted by 1News.
He also thanked members of the public who assisted the investigation by reviewing and submitting CCTV footage.
“They have taken the time to trawl through video and then notify police, and their efforts have helped immensely in getting these quick arrests,” 1News has quoted.
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