Police investigating the disappearance, death and disposal of 32 year-old Carmen Thomas this morning arrested a 32 year-old structural engineer from Remuera. He appears in the Auckland District Court today charged with Carmen's murder.
Officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Inspector Mark Benefield, says today's activities are the result of hundreds of hours of Police work over the past 10 weeks since she was reported missing on July 13.
"Early on in the missing person inquiry we determined that Carmen had most likely been killed. We work to gather evidence and are tasked with exploring information to determine its validity or otherwise.
"That takes considerable time and effort to collect and we must always ensure the correct legal procedures are adhered to throughout. We make no excuses for professionalism.
"For the past couple of weeks we have been working closely with Manson's TCLM and we will continue to try and explore a part of their Victoria St construction site this week in an effort to find any evidence that might assist this investigation.
"Until today we have not been able to comment on media reports about our activities at the site as we have been very mindful of sub-judice and pre-emptive contempt of Court issues."
Mr Benefield said further arrests and charges in relation to Carmen's death and disposal were possible.
Police believe Carmen was killed in her Ngapuhi Rd home in Remuera on June 29 and that she had since been dismembered and disposed of.
ENDS
Issued by Noreen Hegarty
Auckland City Police Communications Manager
Ph 09 302 6947 or 0274-951-589
Website: www.police.govt.nz
