A 25-year-old woman is in custody and helping police with their inquiries following the death of a 67-year-old man and injuries to four other people in Broderick Road, Johnsonville yesterday evening.
Detective Senior Sergeant John Van Den Heuvel of Wellington CIB said Police were called to the address by a woman at the house about 8.30pm, where they found four people suffering stab wounds, including the man who died shortly after. A fifth person at a neighbouring house was also found with wounds.
Four of the victims, including the dead man, are family members and are known to the woman in custody.
"As police were arriving, they were flagged down by a neighbour and were alerted to the woman in the street. Officers apprehended her shortly after with the assistance of a Police dog and she was taken into custody," Mr Van den Heuvel said.
She is currently in hospital receiving treatment for bites to her leg received during the incident.
Two of the surviving victims – a 9-year-old boy and a 45-year-old female neighbour – sustained moderate injuries and are still receiving treatment in hospital, where they remain in a stable condition, though it is understood the woman may be discharged later today.
A 42-year-old woman and a 64-year-old woman received less serious injuries and were treated in the emergency department and discharged, and are receiving support from family, Victim Support and Police.
A knife has been recovered from the scene.
"While Police is not currently seeking anyone else in connection with this incident, we would like to hear from anyone who was in the Broderick Road area in the vicinity of Cortina Ave and Truscott Ave around the time of the incident," Mr Van den Heuvel said.
"Given what we know so far of the incident and the relationship between the victims and the woman in custody, we are satisfied that this was an isolated event and that there is no ongoing risk to the wider community.
"I can also assure the victims and the community that there will be a thorough and detailed investigation into what happened.
"This was a very tragic incident and our thoughts are with the families of those involved, who have asked for privacy at this very difficult time."
Around 40 people are currently working on the investigation, dubbed Operation Neptune.
Mr Van Den Heuvel said scene examinations were continuing today, with a post mortem on the dead man likely to be carried out tomorrow.
ENDS
Media note: The families of the victims have asked that media please respect their privacy and advise they are are not wishing to make any comment at this stage.
Media contact: Ross Henderson, PNHQ Public Affairs, ph 021 192 2919.