Operation Red Rocks Homicide Team Seeks More Information

New Zealand Police National News Release
3:34pm 10 July 2006
http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release.html?id=2516

The Operation Red Rocks homicide investigation team is pleased with the public response to the 0508 733 762 hotline number but say a lot more information is needed yet to help identify the body found yesterday on Wellington's south coast.

Detective Inspector Harry Quinn, Wellington Crime Services Manager, said two dozen callers have rung the hotline since last night with information that might help the inquiry.

"Numerous names have been nominated to us by callers concerned that the victim is a family member, friend, neighbour or workmate," he said. "Some of the calls are more likely than others and we're working through every bit of information to see if we can find our victim's identity."

Other calls have come from people who were in the Owhiro Bay to Red Rocks area from late on Saturday afternoon until yesterday morning when the body was discovered by a local resident out walking.

"Establishing the victim's identity is critical as it will help us paint a picture of who this man is, what he did and how his body came to be on the Owhiro Bay foreshore.

"This is a brutal and bizarre homicide. The victim was severely beaten around the head, his neck horrifically slashed and both hands severed," Detective Inspector Quinn said.

"Somewhere in this city is a crime scene. Someone somewhere will have spent a lot of time trying to clean it up."

More than 50 Police and forensic specialists are involved in the inquiry. Police have spent the day at Owhiro Bay, searching the water, rocks and surrounding area for evidence. They still want to find the man's severed hands, other items of clothing such as a shirt or top, and weapons used to inflict the injuries.

"Even though we have spoken to a lot of Owhiro Bay residents already we plan to still be in the area during the next few days, especially around the tide changes, early in the morning and late afternoon when people are more likely to be walking their dogs or participating in other recreational activities. We need to see if anyone saw or heard anything suspicious."

The victim was a male European in his 60s, of slight to medium build, 84 kilos in weight, 179cm tall, clean shaven with grey wispy hair and a bald to heavily receding hairline.

He was wearing dark coloured Wolsey brand trousers with a fine white stripe in them, zip fly, distinctive orange stitching at the edge of the pockets, red trim on the lining inside the trousers, silver domes instead of buttons on the back of the pockets.

He was also wearing the following:

1. Black shoes. Blazers brand, black imitation leather. Slip on style, black rubber soles with orange diamond design on the bottom.

2. The victim's black leather belt with silver and black decorative buckle featuring the Dunhill brand badge. This belt is a replica or imitation of a real Dunhill brand belt.

Anyone with any information which might help the homicide team is asked to call 0508 Red Rocks - 0508 733 762 or the homicide team at Wellington Central Police on 04 381 2000.

ENDS

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