Police said yesterday Invercargill woman Karen Gaylene White, 60, died as a result of her injuries on March 8 after sustaining a "significant assault" at her Lake Hāwea property.
A homicide investigation was only launched on November 22.
A neighbour, who asked to remain anonymous, told Otago Daily Times yesterday on the night of Mrs White’s death they heard loud screaming coming from the house.
Her husband went across to the house and found Mrs White’s distressed daughter.
"It was the daughter that was screaming ... she went upstairs to find her mum dead."
"They were a rowdy lot of people."
She described the house as being loud and often busy over the last several years, with lots of music and cars parked in the driveway.
Some of the woman’s extended family had been staying in the house since the incident happened.
"They’re coming and going," she said as she pointed to a driveway full of cars.
There had been a lot of noise coming from the house since the family had been back.
To her knowledge there did not seem to be any visible conflict at the house, and the sounds were mostly music and some renovations.
The neighbour had been shaken by what had happened.
"This is a quiet neighbourhood ... this doesn’t happen here."
Detective Senior Sergeant Regan Boucher said yesterday police were following positive lines of inquiry.
"We have confirmed the 60-year-old victim died as a result of injuries she sustained in a significant assault, and are speaking to a number of people who are assisting with inquires."
Police were back at the homicide scene on Monday with scientists from the ESR, completing further examinations.
Det Snr Sgt Boucher said he could not go into any more detail about the examination or what was found.
They believed people in the community held important information about the killing "and we encourage those people to come forward".
Anyone with information was urged to contact police.
