Police have identified the 24-year-old woman found dead at an address in Manurewa early on Sunday morning as Arishma Chand, and say the killer was likely known to her.
Emergency services were called to 27 Maich Road about 1am after Ms Chand was found dead in her bedroom by her parents.
Gary Lendrum of Counties Manukau CIB today told media that Ms Chand had come home from a party earlier in the evening with her boyfriend, and the boyfriend had left after briefly coming inside the property.
Ms Chand then made a call to her parents, who had also been at a function, saying "she was concerned there may be someone outside".
When the parents arrived at the address 20 minutes later, they found Arishma dead in her bedroom.
Ms Lendrum said Arishma's boyfriend has "been cooperative and we've obtained a statement from him".
There was "no sign of forced entry to the address ... the interior of the address has not been disturbed in any way", which leads Police to believe the victim was known to her attacker and may have let them inside, Mr Lendrum said.
"We don't believe that this is a random attack ... no one has broken into that address," he said.
"There are obvious injuries to Arishma's body, hence why it is being treated as a homicide.
"Her ex-husband has come and spoken to us, as have a number of other relatives and we'll be following up where those persons were over the next couple of days.
"There's a lot of closed circuit television in that area and we've got a small team getting that at the moment.
"I don't believe that this is a random attack - I believe that the answer is a lot closer to home and I don't think the community needs to be fearful that there is an intruder out there that is wandering around that area."
A scene examination has taken place with staff from the ESR and Police are now seeking more information.
Police set up a cordon near Maich Road in Manurewa after being called to the scene early this morning.
Police can be contacted on 09 261 1321, or information can be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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