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Police at Ngaio St, Otaki Beach - Source: Supplied -
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Supporters of a 26-year-old man charged with murdering his 23-year-old partner raised heavily tattooed arms and gave him the thumbs up when he left the dock in Levin District Court yesterday.
The young mother of two children, believed to be aged three and six, was shot in Ngaio St, Otaki Beach, about 4pm on Sunday. She was flown to Wellington Hospital but died yesterday morning.
Police have confirmed that a pre-school-age child was present when the shooting happened.
The man charged with murder and illegal possession of a firearm stood defiantly in the dock yesterday and was remanded in custody to reappear later this month. He and the victim were given name suppression.
The dead woman's aunt described her as an intelligent, caring, fun person who was close to her family.
"She was a very bright, intelligent girl. She was very caring for her family, very close to her sisters, children and extended family. She had a good sense of humour and liked to have fun."
The family was waiting for her body to be taken to Raukawa Marae once an autopsy had been completed.
A neighbour, who gave her name only as Kate, said the first she knew of the shooting was when a young man came running down the driveway opposite her property, yelling to a girl walking up the street: "He's been shot, he's been shot."
She told her daughter to go inside. Her daughter called police while the man persuaded the girl to go up the driveway.
"I could hear him screaming from the back of the house, `Oh f..., oh f..."'
Another neighbour said he heard two shots and presumed it was duck shooters.
He said the family who lived there had moved in only a couple of months ago and many people came and went from the property.
Police cordoned off the house and several neighbouring properties while the scene was being examined.
A bunch of flowers was placed in front of the house.
Police are keen to talk to anyone who was in the area about 4pm on Sunday or has information which may help the investigation.
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