A Christchurch city councillor hopes the discovery of remains in the year-long search for real estate agent Yanfei Bao will bring some closure to a case that has gripped the community.<\/p>\n
The 44-year-old was last seen alive on 19 July last year at a property in Hornby, where she was due to show a potential buyer through a house.<\/p>\n
A man charged with her murder is due to go on trial in October.<\/p>\n
Bao’s disappearance shocked and horrified the community and the country.<\/p>\n
An extensive police search took place over months, centred on Lake Ellesmere and nearby suburbs.<\/p>\n
Police now believe they have found Bao’s body, after a recent tip-off led officers to find a shallow grave on a private farm in Greenpark yesterday.<\/p>\n
Mark Peters is the councillor for Hornby and said her disappearance had gripped the community.<\/p>\n
“It’s not something you want to have happening in your neighbourhood, and not having the certainty of closure – it’s not been a comfortable feeling.”<\/p>\n
He hoped yesterday’s discovery would bring that closure.<\/p>\n
Peters said the case has also opened up conversations about safety.<\/p>\n
“It makes you think about when you are out door-knocking, or if you are in a profession like real estate when you are on your own, you have to make sure you’re safe in what you’re doing.”<\/p>\n
Bao had been working at Harcourts.<\/p>\n
Managing director Bryan Thomson said in a statement they had seen the confronting news and their thoughts were with her family, friends and colleagues within their network.<\/p>\n
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