CHRISTCHURCH. CANTERBURY. Thursday. 25th of September 2008. Some time between 11 am and 12.30 pm. 32-year-old Jason Somerville is home alone at his house, 312 Wainoni Road, on the corner of Hampshire Street and Wainoni Road in the Christchurch suburb of Aranui, his wife Rebecca Chamberlain was out and about.

“I was outside [chopping] some wood, came in to get a drink, someone was knocking at the front door. It was her…”. ‘Her’ was 28-year-old Tisha Lowry wearing a Chicago Bulls jacket and jeans who had just walked home from the nearby Bower Tavern. It would seem that Tisha had been to Jason’s house previously (she lived only two doors away with her grandfather), what she had come over for this day is unknown.

Visit www.truecrimenz.com for more information on this case including sources and credits.

Hosted by Jessica Rust

Written and edited by Sirius Rust

Music sourced from:

“Day of Chaos” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

“Windswept” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

“Plaint” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

“Despair and Triumph” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

“You Are Consuming the Dead Flesh of a Large Terrestrial Mammal” Divider Line
(https://archive.org/details/divider-lines-music-for-films)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

“In the Basement of Charles Whitaker’s Cabin, Half Moon Lake, 1993” Divider Line (https://archive.org/details/divider-lines-music-for-films)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

“Why Has the Radio Stopped Playing” Divider Line (https://archive.org/details/divider-lines-music-for-films)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

“The Bells May Never Stop Ringing” Divider Line (https://archive.org/details/divider-lines-music-for-films)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The podcast version is the intended way to consume this story but we make a transcript available for those that would rather read instead. This can be found below.

Case 31: Christchurch House of Horrors (PART II)

DISCLAIMER:

The following episode contains detailed descriptions of violence and other depraved acts against women. The following content is graphic by the nature of the crime and will be distressing for most people. As much as possible has been done to preserve the dignity of the victims while still giving an accurate account of the timeline and the crimes.

Please consider your own mental well-being before listening ahead. 

ADDITIONAL DISCLAIMER:

This timeline has been pieced together through newspaper articles, internet articles, listener emails, court documents as well as testimony and transcripts of the perpetrator of the crimes in an attempt to paint the most detailed description of the events

We have used the perpetrator’s own words in this narrative. In this retelling, we have taken the perpetrator’s own words as truth. Therefore, the depraved acts and how they came to be, follow how the perpetrator claims the events took place. You must make your own mind up if they are accurate and honest retellings of the crimes.

—

CHAPTER IV: SOMEONE WAS KNOCKING AT THE FRONT DOOR

—

25 SEPTEMBER 2008 REVISITED

Thursday. 25th of September 2008. Some time between 11 am and 12.30 pm. 32-year-old Jason Somerville is home alone at his house, 312 Wainoni Road, on the corner of Hampshire Street and Wainoni Road in the Christchurch suburb of Aranui, his wife Rebecca Chamberlain was out and about.

“I was outside [chopping] some wood, came in to get a drink, someone was knocking at the front door. It was her…”. ‘Her’ was 28-year-old Tisha Lowry wearing a Chicago Bulls jacket and jeans who had just walked home from the nearby Bower Tavern. It would seem that Tisha had been to Jason’s house previously (she lived only two doors away with her grandfather), what she had come over for this day is unknown.

Jason Somerville allowed Tisha into the house. Tisha wandered around the lower floor of the house for a moment apparently “looking at things” before going upstairs, “[She] played with the computer I’ve had set up… [she] had a look at the filing cabinet. I asked her at that point to leave and she didn’t really want to.”

At this point, Jason Somerville got angry and pushed Tisha Lowry down the stairs, although she didn’t fall. Then Jason got more violent, he put his hands around her neck, “[I] grabbed her and [I] held on to her. [I] at some point laid her against the wall … she was slipping down… fighting me… [I held on to her until she] stopped fighting… I knew this person was well and truly a goner cos of how long I’d held her.”

Jason Somerville held Tisha’s throat until she stopped breathing. Somerville then noticed a large volume of aspirated blood discharging from Tisha’s mouth. 

Jason then left the victim’s body and retrieved a pair of his wife’s underwear. He returned to the corpse and shoved the undergarments deep down her throat.

At this time, Jason Somerville removed Tisha’s jeans and underwear. He then raped her lifeless corpse. Once satisfied, Jason pulled his victim’s body to the cupboard under the stairwell. He closed the door.

Just after 12 pm, Jason left the house at the corner of Wainoni Road and Hampshire Street as he had an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting he had to keep. Somerville returned home about an hour later, this would put the time somewhere between 1 pm and 2 pm. 

Knowing his wife Rebecca Chamberlain was due home around 3 pm, Jason acted quickly. He returned to the cupboard under the stairs, where his victim’s corpse still lay. A manhole cover lay on the floor of the stairwell cupboard which led under the house; he removed the cover. Jason then dragged Tisha’s semi-naked body toward the open manhole, lowered her through the hole, and laid the body in the dirt under the house.

Jason then hurried around the house cleaning up any sign that someone else had been in the house and that a struggle had taken place. 

Rebecca Chamberlain returned to the property at approximately 3 pm that day, unaware of any of the violence or depravity that took place in her home. The twosome went about their normal domestic routines and lay down for a night’s rest. One half of that twosome, completely unaware that someone lay eternally resting only a couple of feet below the floorboards.

The next day, the 26th of September 2008, Rebecca left the house in the morning to attend a meeting. At this time, Jason Somerville climbed through the stairwell manhole to under the house where Tisha Lowry’s body lay. He then stripped the corpse naked and raped the body once more. 

Once he was finished, Somerville dug a shallow grave in the dirt underneath the house using his hands and a piece of floorboard. Jason then placed Tisha Lowry’s body in the grave, along with the clothes she was wearing, he then covered her in dirt before returning through the manhole to continue his life as if nothing ever happened.

AFTERMATH OF MURDER

On the 5th of October 2008, ten days after Tisha Lowry was murdered, Jason Somerville was questioned as part of routine police inquiries of the area. Jason said he had not seen Tisha on the day in question but would often see her waiting for the bus at the stop outside his home.

Jason told the police further that the last time he spoke to Tisha was about four weeks ago. He said that Tisha had knocked on his door and asked for someone who didn’t live at the property. Jason went on to explain that she then came inside the property and they spoke briefly about the real estate agents he was using to sell the house before Tisha then went upstairs.

Jason told police he assumed that she was using the toilet but after a short while he discovered her rifling through his bedroom wardrobe, so he told her to leave.

—

CHAPTER V: HYPERACTIVE, PARANOID AND AGGRESSIVE

—

LIFE GOES ON

Life went on for Jason Somerville and his wife Rebecca Chamberlain. They continued to remain at their property at the corner of Wainoni Road and Hampshire Street for the rest of 2008.

In the new year, 2009, reportedly Jason Somerville’s mental state was on the decline. There are reports of Jason Somerville becoming more ‘on edge’ and paranoid during this time. 

We have heard unsubstantiated rumours that Jason Somerville was smoking methamphetamine during this time. If true, this amphetamine use could account for some of Jason’s strange behaviour. According to the NZ Drug Foundation website, Methamphetamine (meth, P, or ice) is “one of a number of amphetamine-type stimulants. It comes as a pill, powder, crystal or liquid which can be swallowed, snorted or injected, but is most commonly smoked in a glass pipe or bong. Meth stimulates your central nervous system to release a large amount of dopamine, the ‘feel-good’ brain chemical. It can make you feel energetic, alert, talkative, and confident. It can increase your sex drive, and reduce your appetite. It can also make you feel hyperactive, paranoid and aggressive.”

During 2009, Jason remained unemployed and continued to attend his building course in Christchurch. Reportedly, according to his neighbours, his hobbies during this time included doing renovations on his house and building arcade cabinets for video games which he kept upstairs in his home.

Also during this time in 2009, neighbours of Jason Somerville reported that prostitutes visited Jason’s house at 312 Wainoni Road regularly. One neighbour, Shanita Araipu, told Anna Leask from the NZ Herald on the 6th of September 2009 for the article ‘Inside Christchurch’s house of horrors’ that one prostitute stayed at the house for about three days, “My older kids would be outside having a smoke and ask the women ‘Who are you?’ and they would say who they were. They were open about it.” It is unclear if Jason’s wife Rebecca Chamberlain knew about these visits from sex workers.

Eleven months had passed since Tisha Lowry’s body was buried under the floorboards of Jason Somerville’s house. The calendar now showed August 2009 and unfortunately, more horror at the corner of Hampshire Street and Wainoni Road was yet to unfold.

—

CHAPTER VI: I SNAPPED

—

30 AUGUST 2009

Sunday. 30th of August 2009. 9.30 am. Jason Somerville and his wife of six years Rebecca Chamberlain were laying in their bed, asleep, upstairs at their house, 312 Wainoni Road. 

Jason awoke, at this time, he attempted to initiate sex with his wife. Rebecca told him “No”. Jason tried again to have sex with his wife, but she told him no once more. This interaction happened an unspecified about of times before Jason left the bedroom and descended the stairs.

Downstairs, Jason Somerville made a cup of coffee for himself. Jason either drank the coffee downstairs or took it back upstairs with him, it is unclear. Nevertheless, Jason returned to the upstairs bedroom shortly after.

Upstairs, Jason once more attempted to initiate sex with his wife Rebecca Chamberlain. She refused once more. At this time, Jason felt “angry” and “rejected” that his wife would not have sex with him.

Furious, Jason grabbed his wife by her neck. He put his arms around her neck in a headlock-type fashion, “I grabbed her by the throat and held on to her… I locked her in a headlock… I snapped…” Jason tightened his grip, compressing Rebecca’s airway around her throat.

Rebecca struggled to get herself out of the headlock but Jason held it, tightening it, “When she finally gave up I let go… I honestly thought she was going to be fine when I let go of her.”

At this time, Jason left his unconscious wife in the bedroom and went to the toilet. He returned to the bedroom shortly after. Rebecca was unmoving, still. Jason checked for a pulse in her carotid area (neck) but found none, she was dead. Jason then placed his fingers on top of vital arteries in the neck and applied firm downward pressure to ensure his wife would not regain consciousness, “It’s the first time I’ve actually had someone die after I’ve let them go after doing that. I don’t understand why the hell she died, I mean shit, when you let someone go they’re supposed to live man… and then I initially tried to cover my tracks…”

After this, Jason Somerville took a pair of underwear and stuffed it down his wife’s throat. Jason then proceeded to rape her corpse. Once he was satisfied, “I kissed her on the forehead and said goodbye to her… I panicked. I dragged her off the bed, dragged her downstairs… I was more worried about the trouble I would get into and it was… crazy.”

Jason dragged his wife’s body out of the bedroom, down the hallway, down the stairs, into the cupboard under the stairs and through the manhole that leads under the house. 

He dug a shallow grave in the same fashion as the last time, dragged the body into the grave and covered his wife’s corpse with dirt. After this, Jason returned through the manhole to begin covering up his murder.

—

CHAPTER VII: I HONESTLY DON’T UNDERSTAND

—

MISSING WIFE

Jason Somerville reported his wife missing approximately four and a half hours after murdering her. He told the police that Rebecca left their home at 10.30 am that day to go to church but left without her keys, handbag, cell phone and bank cards. 

It would seem that Jason attempted to plant the seed with police that Rebecca Chamberlain had committed suicide. He told the police that his wife had a history of depression and addiction. He also told them about locations she had visited in the past to self-harm.

Four days later, on the 3rd of September 2009, Jason Somerville visited the New Brighton Police Station to let the detectives know that ‘someone’ had placed Rebecca’s prescription glasses and wedding ring in his letterbox overnight. 

The detectives sat down with Jason and interviewed him. During this interview, the exact reason as to why is unclear, but Jason confessed to killing his wife Rebecca Chamberlain. To the detective’s surprise, he also confessed to killing his neighbour 28-year-old Tisha Lowry the previous year.

Jason told the detectives that his motivation for the murder of Tisha Lowry was because she wouldn’t leave his house. He also initially said the reason for strangling his wife was because she was hitting him and he was trying to stop her, but later admitted the real reason was that he felt angry and rejected for her refusing to have sex with him.

Jason showed some remorse in these interviews with detectives, including a quote in which he wonders why he committed the murders, “I don’t understand … that’s two lives I know I shouldn’t have taken… I honestly don’t understand it cos it goes against each, everything I’ve been taught.” All of Jason Somerville’s quotes you have heard throughout this podcast come from these interviews, which we sourced from the 23rd of May 2010 article ‘’House of Horrors’ transcript – a lurid tale of death and sex’ by Anna Leask.

—

CHAPTER VIII: NO REMORSE

—

AFTERMATH OF CONFESSION

Tisha Lowry and Rebecca Chamberlain’s bodies were removed from 312 Wainoni Road on the night of the 7th of September 2009. Crowds of people had come out to watch the removal, including members of Tisha Lowry’s family. Her mother Tanya Lowry embraced relatives in tears as Tisha’s body was carried past her and placed into a hearse. Some of those in attendance performed a haka in her honour.

Rebecca Chamberlain’s body was removed that same night. Flowers, cards, soft toys and angel figurines were left outside the house in an impromptu memorial for the victims.

IMPACT STATEMENTS

Jason Somerville pleaded guilty to two counts of murder on the 9th of November 2009 and was officially sentenced for those crimes on the 29th of January 2010. He stood in the courtroom emotionless, wearing blue jeans and a grey short-sleeve buttoned shirt.

Family members of the two victims were present to read their victim impact statements, thirteen in total, nine of which were read in court. Tisha Lowry’s younger brother, Jacob told Jason, “You don’t deserve to be on this earth”. Tisha’s mother, Tanya said, “I hate him… and the fact he degraded her after she died sticks in my mind… I wouldn’t wish the emotions this has caused me on my worst enemy”. Tisha’s sister, Leanne said, “I hate you with so much of myself that this hate I feel towards you is interfering with the rest of my life.”

A poem which Rebecca Chamberlain had written shortly before she was murdered titled I am not a Mistake was read in court. The poem dealt with themes regarding facing up to life and God’s judgement. A statement from Rebecca Chamberlain’s mother was read in court that said she has had trouble sleeping and there were days in which she could not stop crying. Rebecca’s father had a statement read on his behalf, “I really miss Rebecca and feel lost without her in my life.”

SENTENCING

Justice Lester Chisholm then sentenced Jason Somerville for the two counts of murder. These sentencing remarks have been edited for clarity and length:

“The facts are these. On 25 September 2008, Tisha went to your home. She lived two doors away, and it seems that she had been to your home previously. You strangled her and stuffed underpants into her mouth. You then had sex. Later that day you put her body under the floor of your house. The following day there was a further sexual violation before you buried her.”

“On 30 August 2009, you strangled your wife after she refused sex. Again, underpants were stuffed into her mouth and there was sexual violation. You buried your wife under the house and sent the police on a false trail by reporting her as missing. On 3 September you admitted killing both women. Your explanation was that you were angry with Tisha and as far as I can gather this was because she would not leave, and you were angry with Rebecca because she refused sex… You are 33 years of age. Your only previous conviction is one for a traffic offence in 2002 which is obviously irrelevant to the present sentencing.”

“According to the probation officer, you displayed no remorse or victim empathy. Mr Prince, the psychologist, reported that the murders, including the sexual component on both occasions, indicate the beginning of a very serious and disturbing pattern. He considers that you are prone to further violence and there is at least a moderate risk of reoffending sexually.”

“Dr Earthrowl, the psychiatrist, found no signs or symptoms of any major mental illness. But he did report significant symptoms relating to brain trauma and personality difficulties (Mr Ruth has mentioned the various accidents that are reported in detail in the psychiatrist’s and psychologist’s reports). According to Dr Earthrowl, but looking at this over the short term because of the difficulties of doing so over a long term, there is a substantial likelihood of further sexual or violent offences.”

“The victim impact statements. There are 13 statements and most of the victims have expressed their views today either in person or through someone else. Nothing that I can say will reduce the understandable anger and grief they feel. The murders that you have committed have left the Lowry and Chamberlain families with an irreplaceable loss. They have also left children without mothers. It seems that despite the devastation and loss you have caused you cannot bring yourself to express remorse and indications are that you have not got any empathy with the victims. For my part, Mr Somerville, I find this absolutely incomprehensible. Perhaps more significantly, it provides an ominous indication in terms of future risk.”

“Once one takes into account the sexual dimension, which is really sick beyond description, a starting point of 26 years can be justified and I adopt it.”

“Having weighed all the considerations I have decided that the appropriate discount for the guilty pleas is three years. That represents just a little under 20%. The fact that there is not a full 33 1/3% discount reflects a number of factors. First, despite Mr Ruth’s submissions, I do not believe that it could be properly said that you entered your guilty plea at the first available opportunity. Second, there is strength in Mr Stanaway’s submission that a finding of guilt was almost inevitable. Third, there is the absence of remorse or victim empathy. And, fourth, while I agree with all that Mr Ruth said, and indeed Mr Stanaway said, about the importance of encouraging guilty pleas and the benefits to families where there are guilty pleas, it seems to me that there is a distinction, perhaps not great, between a situation where a victim is spared the ordeal of giving evidence at trial, and the murder situation where no victims are able to do so.”

“At one stage I wondered whether the discount should be less than three years. But, bearing in mind the observations of the Court of Appeal in Hessell, I have concluded that the appropriate discount is in fact three years. This means that you will have to serve a minimum of 23 years in prison.”

“I want to add this. There is, of course, no additional protection of preventive detention in this case. At this time, and on the information available to me, I am of the view that the following factors indicate a considerable risk to the community if you are released in the future. First, two separate murders. Second, the horrifying similarities between them. Third, indications that both were fuelled by anger of a spontaneous nature. Fourth, the bizarre and disgusting conduct after each murder. Fifth, the absence of any remorse or victim empathy. Finally, other matters that have been traversed in detail in the psychologist’s and psychiatrist’s reports and, in particular, the references to earlier episodes of strangulation.”

“So to summarise, you are sentenced to life imprisonment. You must serve a minimum of 23 years.”

—

EPILOGUE: I REMEMBER YOUR SMILE

—

HOUSE OF HORRORS

The house at 312 Wainoni Road, now infamously dubbed the Christchurch House of Horrors became the target of vigilantes in the weeks after the murders. The former home of Jason Somerville was set on fire by a suspected arson attack on the night of the 24th of September 2009 (21 days after Jason was arrested for the murders). The inferno was extinguished by the fire service but ultimately the ‘Christchurch House of Horrors’ was partially destroyed.

The, now badly damaged, building on the corner of Wainoni Road and Hampshire Street was demolished sometime in January 2010. Hopefully, purging some of the horrors that took place within it for the local community. Locals were largely in favour of the building being demolished as it was an eerie reminder of the depraved murders.

On the 23rd of October 2012, the Christchurch City Council decided to purchase the property that the ‘House of Horrors’ once resided at with plans to turn the location into a park. Christchurch mayor Bob Parker said after the purchase, “This is a good opportunity to establish a corner green space reserve that will aesthetically add to the neighbourhood.”

The park was officially opened on the 27th of November 2014. The community reserve was dubbed Ripēne Mā Reserve (or White Ribbon Reserve in English). The name was chosen due to the white ribbon symbolising an objection to violence against women to honour Rebecca Chamberlain and Tisha Lowry who were victims of such violence.

The 25th of November every year is officially White Ribbon day. The movement started in Canada in 1991 before officially reaching NZ, by way of the United Nations, in 2004. According to the White Ribbon website, “In [New Zealand] most violence by men against women takes place in the home – with an average of 14 women a year killed by their partners or ex-partners. Each year there are over 3,500 convictions recorded against men for assaults on women and one in five women will experience sexual assault or sexual interference at some point in their lives.”

Rachael Fonotia, the manager of the Aranui Community Trust, gave a statement to the White Ribbon website on the 3rd of November 2014 in regards to why the name was chosen for the reserve, “We are always looking to promote White Ribbon and ways for people to seek help… We seek to acknowledge violence with the aim of preventing it… It’s a site for everybody, for whatever reasons for them, personal reasons;  it’s a site for anybody to reflect.”

REBECCA’S BURIAL

On the 11th of September 2009, eight days after Jason Somerville confessed to the murders, Rebecca Chamberlain’s family released a statement through the police:

“Rebecca was a well-loved member of her family and had many friends. She was struggling to get her life back on track and was making good progress and we are proud of her and her achievements.”

“This is a terrible tragedy for the three families involved and we feel for their loss. A number of people are devastated and this is a difficult time for all concerned.”

“We would like to express our condolences to all people affected by this tragedy. We would also like to express our gratitude to the police for their support and timely advice throughout this difficult time as they undertake an investigation of a very sensitive nature.”

“We would ask that people respect the privacy of Rebecca’s extended family and those affected by our sad loss.”

The next day, the 12th of September 2009, 35-year-old Rebecca Chamberlain was laid to rest in Taupo. Her funeral service was held at the Taupo Baptist Church, the same location she married Jason Somerville six years earlier.

250 people attended the service and remembered their loved one who revelled in singing, worshipping, playing the guitar and making jewellery.

Rebecca Chamberlain’s ashes were laid to rest in a private ceremony later that day at the Taupo Cemetery.

TISHA’S BURIAL

Tisha Lowry tangi (Maori funeral) was held on the same day, the 12th of September 2009. In a private ceremony in Christchurch, over 200 friends and family of 28-year-old Tisha Lowry paid their final respects to their beloved hoa (Maori word for friend).

The ceremony was peppered with friends speaking about their love for Tisha, as well as Maori songs and blessings, and prayers. As Tisha’s coffin was carried out to the hearse, the song For Today by the New Zealand band Netherworld Dancing Toys played. The song contains the appropriate lyrics, “All I want to do is to be with you… And everything else seems unimportant compared… For today… I remember your smile”.

As Tisha’s coffin was lowered into its final resting spot, a group of young men performed a heartfelt haka.

On the 17th of March 2010, six months after the tangi, Tisha’s mother Tanya Lowry spoke to the NZ Women’s Weekly for the article ‘Tisha Lowry – Mourning my baby’ in which she emotionally recalled the last time she saw her daughter, “Tisha held my hand and told me she loved me. I’m so blessed that those were the last words my daughter said to me. I cherish those words so much… Somerville has taken my daughter from me, but he can’t take away my precious memories.”

—

END

—

SOURCES

CHAPTER IV:

Articles
TVNZ, Murderer had sex with victims’ bodies, https://web.archive.org/web/20091112093636/https://www.tvnz.co.nz/national-news/murderer-had-sex-victims-bodies-3120701
Newshub, Gruesome details emerge about ‘house of horrors’ murders, https://www.newshub.co.nz/nznews/gruesome-details-emerge-about-house-of-horrors-murders-2009110914
Stuff.co.nz, Jason Somerville – the facts, http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3045581/Jason-Somerville-the-facts
NZ Herald, ‘House of Horrors’ transcript – a lurid tale of death and sex, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/house-of-horrors-transcript-a-lurid-tale-of-death-and-sex/YHHLLIUMVNDKUL5GVFW24T3I5Y/
Wikinews, Christchurch, NZ man admits murdering wife and neighbour and having sex with bodies, https://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Christchurch,_NZ_man_admits_murdering_wife_and_neighbour_and_having_sex_with_bodies

Documents
New Zealand Legal Information Institute, R v Somerville HC CHCH CRI 2009 009 14005 [2010] NZHC 2 (29 January 2010), http://www.nzlii.org/nz/cases/NZHC/2010/2.html

CHAPTER V:

Articles
NZ Drug Foundation, Methamphetamine, https://www.drugfoundation.org.nz/info/drug-index/methamphetamine/
Herald on Sunday, Inside Christchurch’s house of horrors, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/inside-christchurchs-house-of-horrors/XQMFATASM4GHYP34DH2WF4K35U/

CHAPTER VI:

Articles
TVNZ, Murderer had sex with victims’ bodies, https://web.archive.org/web/20091112093636/https://www.tvnz.co.nz/national-news/murderer-had-sex-victims-bodies-3120701
Newshub, Gruesome details emerge about ‘house of horrors’ murders, https://www.newshub.co.nz/nznews/gruesome-details-emerge-about-house-of-horrors-murders-2009110914
Stuff.co.nz, Jason Somerville – the facts, http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3045581/Jason-Somerville-the-facts
NZ Herald, ‘House of Horrors’ transcript – a lurid tale of death and sex, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/house-of-horrors-transcript-a-lurid-tale-of-death-and-sex/YHHLLIUMVNDKUL5GVFW24T3I5Y/
Wikinews, Christchurch, NZ man admits murdering wife and neighbour and having sex with bodies, https://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Christchurch,_NZ_man_admits_murdering_wife_and_neighbour_and_having_sex_with_bodies
NZ Herald, Murderer says he killed women out of anger, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/murderer-says-he-killed-women-out-of-anger/QWLBHKF7XDHNOD6ALRINXOS2CE/?c_id=30&objectid=10608234&pnum=0

Documents
New Zealand Legal Information Institute, R v Somerville HC CHCH CRI 2009 009 14005 [2010] NZHC 2 (29 January 2010), http://www.nzlii.org/nz/cases/NZHC/2010/2.html

CHAPTER VII:

Articles
TVNZ, Murderer had sex with victims’ bodies, https://web.archive.org/web/20091112093636/https://www.tvnz.co.nz/national-news/murderer-had-sex-victims-bodies-3120701
Newshub, Gruesome details emerge about ‘house of horrors’ murders, https://www.newshub.co.nz/nznews/gruesome-details-emerge-about-house-of-horrors-murders-2009110914
Stuff.co.nz, Jason Somerville – the facts, http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3045581/Jason-Somerville-the-facts
NZ Herald, ‘House of Horrors’ transcript – a lurid tale of death and sex, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/house-of-horrors-transcript-a-lurid-tale-of-death-and-sex/YHHLLIUMVNDKUL5GVFW24T3I5Y/
NZ Herald, Murderer says he killed women out of anger, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/murderer-says-he-killed-women-out-of-anger/QWLBHKF7XDHNOD6ALRINXOS2CE/?c_id=30&objectid=10608234&pnum=0

CHAPTER VIII:

Articles
NZ Herald, House of Horrors killer shows no remorse, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/house-of-horrors-killer-shows-no-remorse/ZJAN33NVWIK7TPI7S232SPUBNQ/
NZ Herald, Relatives mourn as body taken from ‘house of horrors’, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/relatives-mourn-as-body-taken-from-house-of-horrors/YXWYYGJY56TF26RIVUSGJF6LEU/
Stuff.co.nz, House of Horrors murderer jailed for life, https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3269964/House-of-Horrors-murderer-jailed-for-life

Documents
New Zealand Legal Information Institute, R v Somerville HC CHCH CRI 2009 009 14005 [2010] NZHC 2 (29 January 2010), http://www.nzlii.org/nz/cases/NZHC/2010/2.html

EPILOGUE:

Articles
White Ribbon, About, https://whiteribbon.org.nz/about/
White Ribbon, Ripēne Mā (White Ribbon) Reserve opens, https://whiteribbon.org.nz/tag/aranui-community-trust-incorporated-society/
Scoop, Message from the Family of Rebecca Chamberlain, https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0909/S00184.htm
Otago Daily Times, Christchurch murder house burns, https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/christchurch-murder-house-burns
NZ Herald, Horror house victims buried, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/horror-house-victims-buried/V7UQFGXJABQXL7CRCYGZETJEGY/
Radio New Zealand, Lack of action on death house frustrates neighbours, https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/52232/lack-of-action-on-death-house-frustrates-neighbours
9 News, Necrophiliac house to become a park, https://www.9news.com.au/world/necrophiliac-house-to-become-a-park/c73d5efb-585a-41d1-9591-81810b0eb9de
Now to Love, Tisha Lowry – Mourning my baby, https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/news/real-life/tisha-lowry-mourning-my-baby-5629
NZ Herald, ‘House of Horrors’ remnants cleared away, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/house-of-horrors-remnants-cleared-away/PRWLGZEOROGHBA2DFRNOQCP6BI/