Labour MP Kiritapu Allan is devastated her older brother has been charged with murder, but says her family's thoughts and aroha are with the victim and her family
Lorna Thompson was killed last month in Whanganui.
Mother of five Lorna Anne-Marie Thompson was described by her family as a beautiful soul taken from them too soon.
Eric Mete is accused of her murder - he's the half-brother of Labour MP Kiritapu Allan.
- Man charged with woman's murder in Whanganui
- Labour MP Kiri Allan's half-brother Eric Mete charged with murder
"It's been an extremely trying time for our whanau and our thoughts and all our aroha have been with the victim and her whānau at this time," Allan told Newshub.
Last year, National MP Nikki Kaye's half-brother Clinton Thinn was found guilty of murder in the United States. It's a tough balance for MPs.
"I am an aunty, a sister, a daughter - and that's been really important for me in the last couple of weeks to put that role at the forefront of my mind and be very clear that it's in a very separate and distinct category from my role as a parliamentarian," said Allan.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was supportive of her MP.
"My advice was just that she does a wonderful job and that we can't always carry the burden of what goes on around us," she said.
Thompson was found dead at her home above a Whanganui shop last month. Police say it was at least five days after she was killed.
Thompson and Mete were partners.
"Our families are intimately connected and have been for generations, so we are all relatively known to each other," said Allan.
Newshub understands Mete has struggled with meth use.
"Methamphetamine - I'll start with my own family, it's had devastating impact within my own whānau and my own community," said Allan.
Allan comes from a family of 10, and grew up in a separate community and town from her older brother.
"His children are still my nieces and my nephews and at the end of the day we're still whānau," she told media.
Mete underwent a psychiatric assessment last week, and is expected to make a plea on July 12. His name suppression lapsed today, revealing the family's connection to the Beehive.
Newshub.
