25 Jan 2024

Woman accused of suppressing evidence in Christchurch homicide

10:36 am on 25 January 2024
Police cordons at Carisbrooke Street in the Christchurch suburb of Aranui on 4 January 2024 after a 38-year-old man was found dead overnight.

Police at the scene on the homicide investigation on 4 January. Photo: RNZ / Adam Burns

A woman has been arrested for allegedly suppressing evidence in connection to the murder of Christchurch man David Bridgwater.

Bridgwater, 38, was found dead on Carisbrooke Street in the eastern suburb of Aranui in the early hours of 4 January, sparking a homicide investigation.

A 51-year-old woman was charged with accessory after the fact of his murder on Wednesday and appeared in Christchurch District Court on Thursday morning.

According to court documents, she was charged with "actively suppressing evidence by preventing access to CCTV data".

Judge Katie Elkin granted the woman name suppression and remanded her in custody until her next court appearance in February.

Police earlier said they had received more than 20 pieces of information from the public in relation to the investigation.

But they were continuing their inquiries and asked anyone with information that could help to call 105 or report in on the police website.

People were asked to reference "Operation Walter".

Information could also be given anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.