17 Jan 2014

Investigations begin into Libya killings

11:33 am on 17 January 2014

The death of New Zealander Lynn Howie in Libya has been referred to the chief coroner in New Zealand and an investigation has begun.

Ms Howie and British man Mark de Salis, 48, were killed near a gas and oil facility 100 kilometres west of Tripoli around New Year's Day.

Lynn Howie and Mark De Salis.

Lynn Howie and Mark De Salis. Photo: FACEBOOK - Foreign & Commonwealth Office / AFP

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said there have been no arrests over the killings.

The chief coroner's office has started an investigation in New Zealand into Ms Howie's death but would give no further details.

An inquest into the death of Mr de Salis, who had worked in Tripoli for six years, has begun in Britain.

The inquest at Ampthill Coroner's Court was told on Thursday a post mortem in Britain confirmed Mr De Salis was shot in the head, the BBC reports. The hearing was adjourned until 22 September to allow a pre-hearing investigation to take place.

The killings came a month after a US teacher was shot dead while out running in the eastern city of Benghazi, after which the Foreign Office said further attacks against westerners were likely.