Kiwi Gina Lander’s death in the UK is now being treated as murder

New Zealander Gina Lander was reported missing from her home in Walsall, England.

The case of a missing New Zealander living in England is being treated as murder.

Gina Lander, 46, was reported missing from Walsall in the West Midlands on March 16 by her partner David Stokes, 39.

Five weeks later, with Lander still missing, Stokes took his own life.

Gina Lander loved travelling, her daughter Shireen Harper said.

Coroner Zafar Siddique this week recorded Stokes’ death as a suicide and Lander’s as unlawful.

Police now believe Stokes killed his partner and disposed of the body before reporting her missing.

Lander’s daughter Shireen Harper said she was saddened that her mother was “yet another victim of domestic abuse”. 

Gina Lander was a school teacher who taught in New Zealand, Egypt, and Indonesia.

“I am relieved that it has now been ruled on and we can get closure,” she said. 

“While we may not be able to seek justice, we are able to know the truth, and we know that the man who murdered her cannot hurt anyone else,” she said.

Harper said her mother was living in Jakarta, Indonesia, when she met Stokes. She moved with him to the United Kingdom last year.

“She loved travelling and exploring, she had a real love for interesting places,” she said. “She was a traveller with a real passion for life.”

As a primary school teacher Lander taught in Tauranga in New Zealand, Cairo in Egypt, and Jakarta.

She was known as “Jump Jam Gina” for her love of teaching the children’s aerobics programme at schools in New Zealand.

“She loved her students and was passionate about their growth.”

Police are not thought to be looking for anyone else in connection with Lander’s death.

 – Stuff

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