A couple linked to a homicide investigation remain in hospital a week on from the discovery of a woman’s body in Rotorua.

The dead woman was discovered by police on September 23 and a 52-year-old Rotorua man has been charged with her murder.

Police said the man would face further charges relating to the alleged serious assaults of an elderly couple at a Russell Cres property the same day.

Today, a police spokesperson said the couple were still in hospital.

“The officer in charge of the investigation advises that there is no change in condition of the two injured people, they both remain in hospital in a critical condition.

“Any further update will be released proactively when available given the wide interest in this incident,” the spokesperson said.

Police revealed last week a third person at the elderly couple’s home suffered minor injuries but did not require hospital treatment. The cases were linked because all three alleged victims were known to the arrested man.

‘She didn’t deserve to die that way’

A neighbour of the murdered woman said she had been told by police she died a “terrible violent death”.

A neighbour on Old Taupo Rd, who didn’t want to be named, said she got to know the dead woman from chats across the fence over the past two years.

Police at an Old Taupo Rd address in Rotorua where a woman was found dead on Monday, sparking a homicide investigation. Photo / Ben Fraser.

She said they would chat often. One topic of conversation would be how she would have her windows and curtains wide open day and night.

“I would say to her ‘gosh don’t do that around here, you need to be careful with break-ins and what not’,” the woman said.

She said she told police she found it strange when she woke on the previous Thursday morning and looked over to the woman’s house and noticed for the first time the windows were closed and curtains were pulled. She said it crossed her mind she must have had someone staying as it was out of character.

She said police had talked to all the neighbours and while they had not revealed any details of how or why the woman was killed, she said police told her she had “died a terrible violent death”.

“I said ‘she did not deserve to die that way’.”

The neighbour said the dead woman was a loner who didn’t have many visitors. She had been saddened recently after losing her mother and father a week apart 18 months ago.

Despite not having many people around, the neighbour noticed in the past month there had been a vehicle at her flat on occasions. She had passed that information to police.

52-year-old man appears in court

A 52-year-old man appeared in the Rotorua District Court last week charged with the murder of the woman.

Judge Anna Skellern granted interim name suppression of the man as well as interim suppression of the name of the woman who died.

The bare-footed man appeared in the dock wearing shorts and a T-shirt and had a large bandage on his head.

Judge Skellern remanded him in custody to reappear in the High Court at Rotorua on October 18.

Counsel Andy Hill requested the man have interim name suppression as he had only just been charged and there were issues to be addressed.

Crown Solicitor Amanda Gordon asked the deceased’s name be suppressed as police had not yet released it and the court could not be sure all immediate family members had been notified.

A neighbour said police told her the murdered woman had 'died a terrible violent death'. Photo / Ben Fraser.

Retired couple critically injured in assault

A Russell Cres resident said the retired couple assaulted in their home were in their 70s and belonged to a church.

The resident had given police his CCTV footage from his driveway.

“I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. I’ve asked the cops what’s happened but it’s all hush hush.”

He said the couple’s nephew lived “out the back” and he knew all three to say hello to but didn’t know them well.

Another neighbour, who didn’t want to be named, said it was a “horrible horrible thing”.

“Getting my mind around it is hard ... I feel so bad, they are a lovely couple and the fact they got hurt in this way is so hard to take.”

Police and forensic staff were at the Russell Cres property last week.

A large tent was erected in the driveway and police, some in boiler suits, worked inside.

Curtains inside the home were drawn and there were two vehicles in the driveway.

Neighbours spoken to by the Rotorua Daily Post, who didn’t want to be named, were in shock at what had happened.

The elderly man and woman knew the husband and wife well and had been their neighbours for three years. They described them as a retired professional couple who had previously been business owners.

The elderly man said the couple were on life support and family were travelling from Australia.

The elderly woman described them as a “beautiful, caring couple”.

They said police had kept them informed to stop them worrying and had advised them early someone was appearing in court.

They both said they had no idea what happened.

Anyone with information about either incident that may be of use can contact police via the 105 phone service or online referencing the file number 240923/0552.

Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

-Rotorua Daily Post.