Husband charged with murder of ‘Indian-origin woman’ in New Zealand

AUCKLAND - The husband of Ranjeeta Sharma, the Indian-origin woman who was burnt alive on the side of a Waikato road in Auckland, New Zealand, has been charged with her murder in the Hamilton District Court.

Fiji police had taken Diwesh Kumar Sharma, the victim’s husband, into custody earlier this week and he returned to New Zealand along with his four-year-old son yesterday.

Sharma appeared before a community magistrate this morning, and was remanded in custody till Tuesday for a further appearance, Stuff.co.nz reports.

The magistrate also refused an application for name suppression, saying that media had already brought out the case to public notice, and added that suppression of name was not sensible.

Detective Senior Sergeant Nigel Keall has claimed today that Sharma was not arrested by Fiji police as he voluntarily returned to New Zealand.

“One of the main priorities for officers in working in Fiji had been establishing the ongoing care and protection of the victim’s four-year-old son who has returned to New Zealand,” he added.

Meanwhile, Child, Youth and Family Midlands Regional Director Greg Versalko said that his organisation was taking care of what best could be done for the young boy.

Sharma had left for Fiji soon after Ranjeeta burnt body was discovered last week in New Zealand. (ANI)