Counties Manukau police have launched their third homicide investigation in the last nine days following the death of a woman who was hit by a 4WD vehicle as she tried to stop its occupants escaping with her handbag.
Inspector Gary Hill said the 39-year-old Asian woman had returned to her car after shopping with her eight-year-old son at the Manukau Shopping Centre at about 3.15pm yesterday.
As she was getting into her car an offender snatched her handbag and ran to a waiting vehicle described as a brilliant white, large 4WD.
The woman approached the fleeing vehicle but it did not stop, knocking her to the ground.
The vehicle then sped off towards the Manukau City Chambers, along Putney Way.
She suffered serious head injuries and was looked after by witnesses before being taken to Middlemore Hospital.
Police said the woman died at 4.15am today. Her name will not be released until her family have been contacted.
A post mortem was expected to be conducted today.
Mr Hill said yesterday the woman's son was being cared for by relatives.
Senior Sergeant Denise Traill told NZPA Counties Manukau police would be calling for more witnesses today, despite having spoken to a number of people present during the incident already. Anyone with information can call the Manukau Police Station on 09 2611 300.
This latest Counties Manukau homicide follows the killings of Navtej Singh, shot in his liquor store, and 80-year-old Yin Ping Yang who died in hospital at the weekend from injuries suffered in a home invasion.
