Extensive Inquiries Into Polish Woman’s Death

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29900, 14 August 1962, Page 14

Extensive Inquiries Into Polish Woman’s Death

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, August 13. Extensive inquiries being made bv the Auckland Criminal Investigation Branch during the last six months into the death of a Polish woman believed to have defected from the Polish Embassy in London are nearing completion. A post-mortem examination disclosed that she died from a heavy overdose of a drug not easily obtained.

An inquest opened before the Coroner (Mr K. A. Snedden> immediately after her death on February 19, has not yet been closed.

drug represented five to six times the normal dosage, said Dr Doyle. The drug is used tor reducing pain and normal doses are from five to 10 milligrams. Because its effect is not cumulative, medical opinion is that Mrs Starzynski received the fatal dose not more than two hours before her death. The drug can only be obtained by means of a doctor’s prescription. Chemists and doctors were asked by the police if they had prescribed large quantities of the drug to any person. Mrs Starzynski's house in Dryden street is a small, reconditioned villa. She looked after two boarders, and for the last two and a half years worked as a stenographer for the Auckland Harbour "Board at its head office in Quay street. Senior officers of the board remembered her as an especially competent member of the staff, although "somewhat of a mystery woman.” They could not remember her losing much time from work because of illness. She had been consulting a Westmere doctor for blackouts.

Mrs Starzynski attended the Catholic Church of St. Joseph in Great North road. Grey Lynn, not far from her home.

The woman was; Mrs Janina Starzynski, aged 34. a secretary, a naturalised British subject, of 14 Dryden street, Grey Lynn. She was known to her friends and employers in Auckland as Jane Stevenson. Her husband. Mr Christopher Stevenson, also known as Starzynski, lives in Suva, Fiji. Mrs Starzynski, an attractive brunette of medium build, is said to have migrated to Australia some years ago “in the interests of her own safety” after espionage activities in London. She later moved on to New Zealand. She died soon after noon on February 19 at her home. At an inquest the next day a police pathologist, Dr. D. J. A. Doyle, said that the Government analyst reported 9 9 milligrams of a drug in the stomach. The drug was also present in the liver in a concentration of 20 milligrams. The concentration of the

Parishioners believe her father was mayor of a large Polish town, but she did not talk about her early life. Death notices which appeared in Auckland newspapers gave only the anglicised version of her name. However, she was buried under her Polish name

Urgent police inquiries into her death were surrounded with unusual secrecy.' It is believed they were made at the request of overseas authorities.