Wellington, Aug 21 (IANS): The Sikh community in New Zealand's Auckland is shocked by the revelation that the wife of a Sikh man is a co-accused in her husband's murder, media reported.

Amandeep Kaur, 31, and her workmate and co-accused, Gurjinder Singh, 25, were charged with the murder of 35-year-old Davender Singh. Both of them, however, pleaded not guilty in the Auckland High Court Wednesday.

Davender Singh's family spokesman and Sikh leader Daljit Singh said many in the community were unaware of charges against Kaur until Wednesday, the New Zealand Herald reported Thursday.

The Sikh leader said the community's "moral duty" was to support the couple's 10-year-old son in India. The couple sent him back so they could focus on their careers, the report said.

The Sikh community has raised about NZ$10,000 (over $8,380) for the child and a further NZ$15,000, with the help of the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) for the victim's body to be sent back to India.

"Arrangements are being made for the body to be sent to his parents for cremation," Daljit Singh was quoted as saying.

Kaur will remain in custody until October, when she and her co-accused will appear in court.

Name suppression of the pair was lifted Wednesday. The incident occurred outside the Manukau Event Centre, a site for public functions in Auckland.

Police said Kaur was with the victim on the night of the incident. Davender Singh was attacked when the couple had stopped on a road to buy takeaways while on their way home from work.

He was attacked with a sharp implement and died on the spot in the driver's seat.

Davender Singh came to New Zealand from Rajasthan seven years ago and had been working as an upholsterer at DS Furniture in Mangere, a suburb of Auckland.