Husband charged with Karen White's murder at Lake Hāwea
The husband of an Invercargill woman found dead at Lake Hāwea last year has been charged with her murder.
Karen Gaylene White, 60, died at her Lake Hāwea property on 8 March 2024.
In November, eight months after her death, police launched a homicide investigation.
Otago Lakes Area Commander Inspector Paula Enoka said following a lengthy investigation, police had charged a 61-year-old Robert Joseph White with murder.
He appeared in the Queenstown District Court on Wednesday morning, where his lawyer, Fiona Guy Kidd KC, entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.
Name suppression was not sought.
He will next appear at the High Court at Invercargill at a later date.
"Police continue to support the family and friends of Ms White, and our condolences go out to them," Enoka said.
White's death was initially treated as unexplained while officers worked to establish what had happened before her death.
In December, police said White was the victim of a significant assault and they believed people in the Lake Hāwea area had important information.
