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| Islander murdered in New Zealand | Islander murdered in New Zealand |
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| A young woman from Orkney has died after being attacked while on a working holiday in New Zealand. | A young woman from Orkney has died after being attacked while on a working holiday in New Zealand. |
| Police in the North Island town of Taupo said they were treating the death of the 26-year-old as murder. | Police in the North Island town of Taupo said they were treating the death of the 26-year-old as murder. |
| The woman, named locally as Karen Aim, was found in the early hours of Thursday with serious head injuries and died in hospital. | The woman, named locally as Karen Aim, was found in the early hours of Thursday with serious head injuries and died in hospital. |
| A Northern Constabulary spokesperson confirmed that the woman's family had been informed of her death. | A Northern Constabulary spokesperson confirmed that the woman's family had been informed of her death. |
| The Foreign Office said: "We can confirm that a British national died in New Zealand on 17 January. Local police are treating the death as suspicious." | The Foreign Office said: "We can confirm that a British national died in New Zealand on 17 January. Local police are treating the death as suspicious." |
| New Zealand police said the 26-year-old had been in the country on a work permit since last October and was working at Wairakei, a nearby geothermal village. | New Zealand police said the 26-year-old had been in the country on a work permit since last October and was working at Wairakei, a nearby geothermal village. |
| It was her second visit to the country after an original trip in 2006 when she travelled there on a three-month visitor's permit before returning home in January 2007. | It was her second visit to the country after an original trip in 2006 when she travelled there on a three-month visitor's permit before returning home in January 2007. |
| Our victim has been found lying prone severely injured with serious head injuries Det Sgt Greg Turner | Our victim has been found lying prone severely injured with serious head injuries Det Sgt Greg Turner |
| Officers found her lying on the ground after they were called to check a report of damage to a nearby college at just after 0200 local time. | |
| Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Turner said police who attended the scene had described the attack as "ghastly". | Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Turner said police who attended the scene had described the attack as "ghastly". |
| He said: "Our victim has been found lying prone severely injured with serious head injuries. | He said: "Our victim has been found lying prone severely injured with serious head injuries. |
| "An ambulance was called and she was taken to Taupo Hospital but died a short time later. | "An ambulance was called and she was taken to Taupo Hospital but died a short time later. |
| "The officers had originally gone to the area around 2.10am to investigate a report from a security company of damage to the school and it was while doing an area canvas that the woman was found." | "The officers had originally gone to the area around 2.10am to investigate a report from a security company of damage to the school and it was while doing an area canvas that the woman was found." |
| Police have established that the woman had been out with friends in bars in central Taupo before the attack. | Police have established that the woman had been out with friends in bars in central Taupo before the attack. |
| Det Sgt Turner said: "We're currently trying to establish if she left the bar alone or not and a major part of our inquiry is obtaining security footage from the CBD (Central Business District) and further afield." | Det Sgt Turner said: "We're currently trying to establish if she left the bar alone or not and a major part of our inquiry is obtaining security footage from the CBD (Central Business District) and further afield." |
| Residents living near the scene of the attack have been asked to search their houses and gardens in case a weapon or clothes have been dumped. | Residents living near the scene of the attack have been asked to search their houses and gardens in case a weapon or clothes have been dumped. |
| Police also appealed for the vandals responsible for damaging the school to contact them. | Police also appealed for the vandals responsible for damaging the school to contact them. |
| Taupo, in the centre of the North Island and on the shores of the country's largest lake, is a popular tourist destination for backpackers. | Taupo, in the centre of the North Island and on the shores of the country's largest lake, is a popular tourist destination for backpackers. |