An aunty said one of the last conversations she had with Ms Whatuira was about her saving money to buy a headstone for her son who died from suicide in 2017. Eight days later, Morrison invited her friend Tialoren Topping over for a drinking session and told her she had something to show her. Two weeks later, however, Ms Whatuira’s family reported her missing and an investigation commenced. Morrison admitted socialising with Ms Whatuira, but said she had been picked up late on August 8 and she had not seen her since. He said she had some idea of what Ms Whatuira’s whanau felt since she too had lost a family member to murder.

Source: Otago Daily Times October 31, 2022 06:08 UTC