Disappearance of Iraena Asher
Iraena Asher | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Iraena Te Rama Awhina Asher 17 July 1979 |
| Disappeared | 11 October 2004 (aged 25) Piha, New Zealand |
| Status | Possibly drowned |
| Occupation(s) | Trainee teacher, model |
Iraena Te Rama Awhina Asher (born 17 July 1979) was an Auckland trainee teacher and model who disappeared in controversial circumstances at Piha, a West Auckland beach, on 11 October 2004.
Disappearance
At 9 p.m. on 10 October, Asher called the New Zealand Police using the 1-1-1 emergency telephone number, from Piha, expressing fears for her safety.
Although a patrol car could have been made available to attend this incident, police decided to call a taxi for Asher to pick her up. Although a taxi was dispatched, it went to the wrong street in Onehunga, on the other side of the metropolis from Piha. Asher was later found wandering the streets by a Piha couple, Julia Woodhouse and Bobbie Carroll, who took her into their home for several hours. At 1:10 a.m., she left their home and was subsequently seen by others, semi-clad, walking towards the beach. She ran off before she could be approached. This was the last known sighting of her.
Asher's family told police that she suffered from bipolar disorder.[1]
In May 2005, Asher's family held a memorial service for her, telling mourners that if police had responded properly to her emergency call, she might be alive today. Her parents, Betty and Mike Asher, are considering bringing a lawsuit against the New Zealand Police.[2]
Inquest
An inquest into her disappearance began on 17 July 2012.[3] The police investigation into her disappearance found that she most likely drowned.[1] During the inquest, the coroner criticised Woodhouse and Carroll for not calling the police themselves, but the High Court subsequently cleared the couple of any wrongdoing.[4]
In popular culture
In 2011, Australian (formerly New Zealand) band Alpine Fault released the album Iraena's Ashes, featuring songs inspired by the case.
References
- ^ a b "Model's inquest: Drowning death likely - cop". nzherald.co.nz. 17 July 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
- ^ Elizabeth Binning and Louisa Cleave (13 May 2005). "Iraena's family will sue police". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
- ^ Powley, Kathryn (24 June 2012). "Inquest over missing student, eight years on". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
- ^ "Iraena Asher case: Couple cleared of wrongdoing". The New Zealand Herald. 29 April 2013.