Robert White (61), fisherman, of Waimatua in Southland, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his wife, Karen Gaylene White, in Lake Hāwea on March 8 last year at his appearance in the Queenstown District Court yesterday.
A neighbour, who heard screaming coming from Mrs White’s house on the day of her death, was relieved to hear an arrest had finally been made.
She said the small Hāwea community was not prepared for something like this and the lack of information after the death made it even harder.
"All of us feel the whole thing is very bizarre to have nothing [made] public for eight months and then suddenly they’re saying it’s murder and then a few months later someone’s been arrested."
The neighbour said after she heard a scream on the day Mrs White died, her husband went next door to find Mrs White’s daughter very distraught after seeing her mother dead upstairs.
The neighbour said the house where Mrs White was found dead had been occupied since the incident.
There were a lot of cars at the property at present, with people coming and going.
It appeared a man lived there, but she did not have any interaction with him.
Friends of the family from Invercargill, who asked to remain anonymous, said their hearts went out to the family of Mrs White.
They had been staying in the Hāwea home to support family members and help them with some work, but declined to give any more information out of respect to the family’s privacy.
At White’s court appearance yesterday, defence lawyer Fiona Guy-Kidd, KC sought bail.
She did not seek name suppression, saying the defendant’s identifying details had already been published by media.
Ms Guy-Kidd said she was confident the defendant would comply with his bail conditions, as he had always reported to police as required.
He had been out to sea for his job, and always returned, she said.
Judge Harvey imposed strict bail conditions including a daily curfew between 9pm and 7am.
White cannot leave Southland or go to sea, must surrender his passport and cannot apply for travel documents.
Police, accompanied by ESR scientists, returned to the scene of the homicide in December to complete further examinations.
"Following a lengthy investigation, police have now charged a 61-year-old man with murder," Otago Lakes area commander Inspector Paula Enoka said.
Police earlier said Mrs White died as a result of injuries she sustained in a "significant assault".
The Otago Daily Times understands Mrs White and her husband had begun the process of ending their marriage.
