The owner of the popular Auckland yacht tour business Sailing Yachts, which provides guided sailing tours for around $2,000 each, has been accused of paying a man who was involved in the murder of a young girl.
In July, the woman’s mother reported her missing after she failed to show up for work.
Her daughter, 19-year-old Maria Cunanan, was last seen alive on the weekend of July 26.
Her body was found the following day and police believe she was killed during the murder-suicide.
The woman’s father, a police officer, has denied any involvement in the killing.
The man who allegedly murdered Maria Cunean told police he went out on the harbour with her the night before she disappeared and killed her before dumping her body in the sea.
The police investigation into the killing has now concluded and the police have issued an arrest warrant for the man.
Police say they believe the man killed Maria Cuntan because he was “frustrated with the way her mother and grandmother had dealt with him”.
“The man had a sense of entitlement,” Detective Sergeant Dave Williams said.
“He didn’t want to work for her.
He felt that he had to be a little bit of a jerk to her.”
The man, who was not named in the court documents, was arrested at his home on Monday.
He faces charges of manslaughter, murder and attempted murder.
The man’s father and mother have denied any wrongdoing.
“They’re just a bunch of grubby old bums,” one of the family members told The Huffington Post New Zealand.
The case has sparked a national debate about whether young women are being targeted by online predators.
The investigation into what happened to Maria Cunchan is still ongoing, and police are appealing for witnesses.
“There are people who have come forward and told us that they know exactly what happened,” Detective Williams said of the woman.
“I’d like to think that they’re looking at themselves.”
Topics:crime,law-crime-and-justice,crime,new-zealand,australiaFirst posted May 08, 2018 19:47:58Contact Rachael McManusMore stories from New Zealand