A young New Zealand woman lay dead in her apartment in
Melbourne for days before she was found.
The body of Zahra Hammond, 26, was discovered by police in
her bed at her home, in the suburb of Williamstown, on
Saturday.
Police there are investigating the circumstances surrounding
her death, but it is understood medication may have been
involved.
Sergeant Glenn Edwards, of Williamstown Police, said: "The
detectives have the files at the moment, but some medication
was involved.
Mr Edwards said results from an autopsy in the next few days
would indicate for sure whether Miss Hammond had anything in
her system.
Her extended family in Auckland and Whangarei have gathered
to support her mother and three teenaged siblings. The family
lost their father a few years ago in a forestry accident in
Australia.
Cousin Kelly Gillard, of Auckland, said the family were
devastated at the news. "We're just shattered," Ms Gillard
said through tears.
"She was such a beautiful girl and she loved her family and
friends. There was nothing wrong with her at all. We're just
at a loss, we don't know what's happened."
Miss Hammond attended Whangarei Girls High School.
She moved to Melbourne recently and had been working in an
administration job at a law firm.
Miss Hammond's mother, Cindy Lomas, had become worried when
phone calls and text messages to her daughter went
unanswered.
The family are now fundraising to bring the body back home.
- Vaimoana Tapaleao of the New Zealand Herald
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