Car Search Swings To Kaikoura Area

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32221, 13 February 1970, Page 1

Car Search Swings To Kaikoura Area

Detectives investigating the death of Miss Jennifer Beard near Haast are seeking a green Vauxhall car seen in the WaiauKaikoura area early last month.

Detective Inspector E. T. Mitten, the officer in charge of the investigation, said last evening that the police received their first reports about this car yesterday.

“We have had reports of (sightings of a car similar to; the suspect’s on the Inland Road to Kaikoura, between Kaikoura and Waiau, •on January 5,” he said. “We have also been told that between January 3 and January 7 such a car, driven by a man similar in descrip tion to the man we are seeking, was seen at the Waiau s tore and that on January 16 the car and the man were seen near Kaikoura. “We ask any persons in the area who have seen the car or the man, particularly run holders and station owners in the back country, to get m touch with the police. It is I . probable that the driver call led at homesteads for food petrol or employment. Farmers are asked to check any areas on their properties j where a car or a person could j ibe concealed, particularly I huts." Inspector Mitten said that the police also wished to get in touch with the drivers of a number of cars who might be able to help the investigation. They are The driver of the car who about 11.30 am. on De-

f' cember 29 picked up Miss I x Beard in Carmen Road I and possibly took her to i Kirwee. 1 The driver of a green VauxI hall car, probably a 1954; > model, who stopped at a’ farm at Taipo. 19 miles from Otira, between 19 a.m. and 11 a.m on Dej cember 30. The driver ob- - tained two gallons of petrol from the fartnei and indicated he had just left Christchurch an-1 r was going towards Kumara. ' The man who stayed at the 'I Papanui Sawmilling Com-j 5 1 pany’s hostel on the night; of December .30 and is thought to have had a I ’ green Vauxhall. si The owner of a green Vaux l';' hall parked in Franz Josef township about 9 a.m. on December 30 t This ear was also seen t that day parked at the f motor camp laundry and t was seen a number of I times in the motor camp The driver of a green Vaux-! . hall seen in Haast about | 1.45 p.m. and again about

i 5 p.m. on December 31, On the later occasion the’ driver was approaching: the post office. The driver of a green Vaux-! I hall which left the Okuru! motor camp, south of, Haast. about 8 a.m. on 1 January 1. ‘ “It is of vital importance (that the owners or drivers of; (these cars get in touch with! |the police,” Inspector Mitten! ’said. Detective Sergeant 1. E. . Robson, of Rotorua, is to join! the headquarters investigation staff in Christchurch. Al-j ready detectives from Wei lington and Dunedin are: working on the investigation in Christchurch. There are also 13 detectives making (inquiries in the Christchurch 'district and two detectives 'continuing inquiries in South ’Westland. It is estimated that the police have seen 7000 of the 29,112 Vauxhall cars imported into New Zealand between 1953 and 1957. About 3500 have been seen in the Christchurch police district. Half of the policemen in, ’the district, including many' from suburban and country stations, were briefed about] the investigation yesterday., (The other half will he briefed i today.