Gulf Harbour body: Man, woman arrested in connection with murder investigation

A man and a woman have been charged in connection with a murder investigation that was launched after the body of an unidentified woman was found in Auckland’s Gulf waters in March.

The couple, both 36, made their first appearance in North Shore District Court on Monday, but the news was made public for the first time since the strict restrictions expired.

They were arrested Sunday evening after trying to leave the country.

Both are charged with indignity to a human corpse. A Mandarin interpreter accompanied them Monday.

The defense attorney’s motion to continue the name ban was denied, but the defendants’ names remain withheld pending an appeal by the defense.

On Monday, a police prosecutor successfully requested an order to drop the charges and conceal their nature, the circumstances of the defendants’ arrests and their connection to the woman’s body found in Gulf Harbor, arguing that it could prejudice the investigation.

On Thursday, the prosecutor informed the court that he no longer intends to seek a continuation of these repressions because of the publicity they have already generated.