A 22-year-old man will appear in court today following the brutal killing of a 62-year-old widow in her Christchurch home on Friday night.
Gaynor Alice White , who lived alone, was found dead in the upmarket Huntsbury suburb, in the Cashmere Hills, by a relative after she failed to keep an appointment.
Police said Mrs White was killed with a weapon in what was probably a robbery that went wrong.
She might have been dead for up to 48 hours before her body was found.
Acting Detective Inspector David Long said yesterday the a man was arrested overnight Saturday following "good" police work.
He would appear in Christchurch District Court this morning charged with burglary of Mrs White's home and unlawfully taking of her car.
He also faced charges in respect of other unrelated matters.
Mrs White's car was found abandoned near the Heathcote River in the Christchurch suburb of Opawa on Saturday.
Depending on the outcome of ongoing investigations, the accused could face a charge in relation to her death, Mr Long said.
A post-mortem examination had been completed but police would not comment on the results.
Mr Long said police were not seeking anyone else in relation to the inquiry at this stage.
Mrs White lost her husband to cancer five years ago, The Press reported.
The couple had run a Christchurch clothing manufacturer Apparel
