Christchurch Man Admits Murders

By Michael Anstee

Christchurch man Jason Paul Somerville has admitted the murders of two women whose bodies were found underneath his house – the address that has become known as the House of Horrors.

The 33 year-old stood impassively as he entered early guilty pleas at an unscheduled appearance before Judge Graeme Noble in the Christchurch District Court today.

He admitted the murders of his wife, Rebecca Sarah Somerville, on August 30 2009 and a near neighbour, Tisha Lowry on September 25 2008.

According to the police summary of facts, released to the media, Ms Lowry, who was known to her attacker, had visited his home at 312 Wainoni Road, Christchurch between10:50am and 12:30pm on September 25 2008 and was invited in by Mr Somerville. Once inside a struggle broke out between the two.

In his anger, Mr Somerville is said to have strangled his victim until unconscious despite her struggles to escape from his grip. Once sure she was no longer breathing, he grabbed a pair of his wife’s underwear, lodging them into her throat.

He then stripped his victim and proceeded to have sexual intercourse with her.

Mr Somerville then left the house to attend a pre-arranged meeting, leaving the body of Ms Lowry in his understairs cupboard. He returned around an hour later and dragged Ms Lowry’s body into the crawl space beneath his house. He then cleaned thoroughly before his wife returned.

The following day, when home alone, he again violated Ms Lowry’s body before burying her in a shallow grave underneath the house.

On October 5 2008, Mr Somerville, questioned along with others in the area, gave a statement to the police claiming Ms Lowry had knocked on his door looking for someone else. They had begun chatting and he had invited her inside to discuss real estate agents working on the sale of his house.

He had claimed that she had gone to use the bathroom and when he found her rifling through bedroom cupboards he asked her to leave.

Mr Somerville also pleaded guilty to the murder of his wife, Rebecca Sarah Somerville.

On August 30 2009 she is said to have rejected several sexual advances from her husband. After being spurned, Mr Somerville put her into a headlock and strangled her until unconscious.

Mirroring his previous attack, he then thrust her underwear deep into her throat and committed sexual acts upon her body. He then buried her underneath the house alongside Ms Lowry.

Mr Somerville then contacted police, informing them his wife was missing and claiming to have contacted her friends and family to no avail.

On September 3 2009 he again contacted police stating he had found his wife’s glasses and wedding ring in his lettebox, claiming someone had placed them there overnight. Upon further questioning, Mr Somerville admitted the murders.

Subsequent examinations of the house established the presence of two bodies, later identified as Ms Lowry and Mrs Somerville.

Mr Somerville explained that he had become angry with Ms Lowry and killed her and attacked his wife because he felt deep anger at the rejection of his sexual advances.

Judge Noble remanded Mr Somerville in custody until November 27 when he will appear for sentencing, directing that a pre-sentence report and professional victim impact reports be completed.