Memorial to Tanya Burr, killed 15 September 2002

Tanya & her car found - 16 September 2002

A photo from TV3's website. Although it is intrusive etc., and although the media presence was extremely painful for Tanya's friends who were watching the real thing, for her family hundreds of miles away and having only just been told by the police, it was a Godsend. I, for one, needed to see what was happening in order to comprehend at least some of it. The ranch slider door at the extreme left, through which the killer entered, is the entrance to Tanya's flat. There were two young men at home in the next flat at the time Tanya was killed. They heard Tanya speak to someone as she answered the door ("Oh no! Not you again! What do you want this time?"), and after that they heard nothing - although they briefly muted their TV, but on hearing nothing else, went back to viewing as Tanya died about three metres from them.

The red car at the left is Tanya's flatmate's. It is parked where the car park where Tanya's car was stolen from.

Tanya's car impounded at the Tauranga-Taupo Challenge service station, alongside Lake Taupo, where the killer dumped it. Staff at the service station found themselves trapped also as their cars were also impounded all day, as they had been parked alongside it. The Integra had been parked there during the night. 

Meanwhile, some friends of Tanya's auntie had the misfortune to have their car break down on the Desert Road. Someone from this service station was sent out to rescue them and they were brought back to this place. However, they could not use its toilet facilities etc. due to the police everywhere. As a result they were sent to a nearby cafe where they learned what had happened. A day or so later they heard who the victim was, but it was months before they crossed paths with Tanya's auntie and were able to tell her about what had happened. (Photo: NZ Herald)

The marks on the ground show where the car was found. This photo was taken a week later.