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| UK woman murdered in New Zealand | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A woman from Orkney has died after being attacked while on a working holiday in New Zealand. | A 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 Karen Aim as murder. | Police in the North Island town of Taupo said they were treating the death of Karen Aim as murder. |
| The 26-year-old, who had been in New Zealand since October, was found in the early hours of Thursday with serious head injuries and died in hospital. | The 26-year-old, who had been in New Zealand since October, 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 Ms Aim was working at Wairakei, a nearby geothermal village. | |
| It would be fair to say that they [Ms Aim's family] were devastated by the news Det Sgt Greg Turner | It would be fair to say that they [Ms Aim's family] were devastated by the news Det Sgt Greg Turner |
| 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. |
| 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. | 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 confirmed he had spoken to her family in Orkney and also to relatives in the Manawatu. | He confirmed he had spoken to her family in Orkney and also to relatives in the Manawatu. |
| Mr Turner said: "It would be fair to say that they were devastated by the news." | Mr Turner said: "It would be fair to say that they were devastated by the news." |
| Dozens of tributes have been posted on the internet on social networking site Bebo. | Dozens of tributes have been posted on the internet on social networking site Bebo. |
| Security footage | Security footage |
| In a message posted before Christmas, Ms Aim described how she had been travelling around the North and South islands and had done her first bungee jump. | In a message posted before Christmas, Ms Aim described how she had been travelling around the North and South islands and had done her first bungee jump. |
| She wrote: "Working in a glass blowing gallery in Taupo, just right up me street.. meeting lots o cool as folk over here too, living wi a kiwi and an Irish lass, right good laughs...." | She wrote: "Working in a glass blowing gallery in Taupo, just right up me street.. meeting lots o cool as folk over here too, living wi a kiwi and an Irish lass, right good laughs...." |
| Ms Aim was found in the early hours lying on the ground near the college suffering from serious head injuries. | Ms Aim was found in the early hours lying on the ground near the college suffering from serious head injuries. |
| She was taken to Taupo Hospital where she died. | She was taken to Taupo Hospital where she died. |
| Police have established that Ms Aim had been out with friends in bars in central Taupo before the attack. | Police have established that Ms Aim 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. |