Horror death for mum

Family, friends and strangers have been stunned by the gruesome murder of Carmen Thomas, formerly of Durban, in Auckland, New Zealand.

Police found the dismembered body of the 32-year-old mother in the Waitakere Ranges, about 25km west of Auckland, on Friday morning.

Friends last saw Thomas alive at the end of June, and she was reported missing on July 13.

A group on social networking site Facebook, set up to find Thomas, had more than 2300 members yesterday.

The site was swamped with messages of support and disgust.

Nikki Tremayne wrote that Thomas taught her to be a strong, independent woman. "Like I promised to find you, I promise justice will be served to the animal that has taken you away from us," she wrote yesterday morning.

Jenny Eastwood wrote: "Finally you can be laid to rest with the dignity you deserve and your family and friends' minds put to ease.

"You're in a better place now and justice will be served. I hope the sick bastard who did this to you suffers for the rest of their miserable life."

Detective Inspector Mark Benefield, heading the investigation into her disappearance, said body remains were taken to the Auckland City Morgue for a forensic postmortem examination yesterday.

"While we are unable to formally identify Carmen Thomas at present, we're confident that we have found where she was buried, and will now go about the process of returning her to her family and loved ones so that she can be given a dignified resting place," Benefield said.

Brad Callaghan, Thomas's former partner and father of her five-year-old son Jack, has been charged with her murder. He is expected to appear in court again on October 13.

New Zealand newspapers reported that Thomas, who worked as an escort at a gentlemen's club, left South Africa for Britain as a 16-year-old.