Counties Manukau Police have charged a 40 year old South Auckland man with two murders.
The charges are in relation to the deaths of Mubarak Yusef [a woman born 1982, more commonly known as Pakeeza Faizal] and her daughter Juwairiyah Kalim [known as 'Jojo'] who was believed to be three years old when she died. The two victims are alleged to have been killed in late December 2006-early 2007 in Howick.
The 40 year man was known to both victims. He is not Jojo's father.
A 64 year old South Auckland man has also been charged with being an accessory after the fact to both murders. Both men will appear in the Manukau District Court today.
Pakeeza and Jojo were not reported missing to Police until January 2013. After the missing person report, Police conducted a lengthy investigation which began to establish a real concern that the two had been subject to foul play. The investigation culminated in human remains being located under the Takapuna Landing Bridge on 18 October 2014.
A meticulous scene examination and excavation of the site is underway. This will be a slow process, as will formal identification of the remains. Police are confident however that the human remains located are connected to this investigation.
Detective Inspector Dave Lynch says that the delay in missing person report posed significant challenges to the investigation.
“A number of avenues of investigation that would have been available to us at the time were unable to be followed due to the delay,” he says. “The result we have today was achieved due to the dedication and commitment of the Police team that worked for almost two years on providing answers for Jojo and and Pakeeza's family.”
ENDS
Issued by Kimberley Mathews/Communications Manager, Counties Manukau Police
021 192 0717
