Police Recruits Join Owhiro Bay Search
8:16pm 11 July 2006
Recruits from the Royal New Zealand Police College will tomorrow join detectives and specialist searchers combing the
Owhiro Bay and Red Rocks coastal route for items that will help the Tony Stanlake homicide investigation.
Mr Stanlake, known as both Anthony and Tony to family and friends, has been identified as the man whose mutilated body
was found on the Owhiro Bay shoreline on Sunday morning. The 62-year-old Karori man had extensive head and neck
injuries, and his hands had been severed.
Detective Inspector Mike Arnerich, head of the Wellington CIB Operation Red Rocks inquiry, says 43 recruits will help
with a close contact foot search of the coastal beach and walkway area.
Police divers and Specialist Search Group staff will also continue their meticulous scene examination, which includes
sifting sand and gravel in the area where Mr Stanlake's body was found.
"It's important we get as much information as possible from the Owhiro Bay crime scene," Detective Inspector Arnerich
says. "We still want to find Tony's hands, clothing from his upper body and the weapons, any of which could have been
discarded around the rocks, into the sea or elsewhere in the Wellington area."
Investigators will also continue their search of Mr Stanlake's Lancaster Street, Karori, house to try and find material
which will help explain how, when and why he died, and who was responsible.
The scene examination could take some days.
Nearly 100 calls have been received on the 0508 Red Rocks or 0508 733 762 hotline number since Sunday night. Police are
following up every call and hope that now that Mr Stanlake's identity is known, other people who have been in contact
with him, have visited his house, seen him in recent weeks or who can shed any light on his interests will contact
police.
"Establishing Tony's identity was the first step. Our next big task is trying to find out when and where he died and who
was involved.
"Any information from the public, no matter how insignificant it might seem, is important to us."
ENDS