Explosion at Ruapuna considered ‘significant’

Press, 13 March 1986, Page 9

Explosion at Ruapuna considered ‘significant’

An explosion at Ruapuna Raceway early in February is considered significant by detectives investigating the killing of a truck-driver at a Sockburn depot later in the month.

The police were called to the raceway on February 3 after an explosion was found to have damaged the bottom part of a lamp-post. Inquiries failed to find who was responsible.

Two weeks later, on the morning of February 18, Denis Drinkwater, aged 40, was killed in a powerful bomb blast at the Mogal Bin Services depot in Waterloo Road. Detective Inspector David Haslett, who heads the investigation, said yesterday that the police believed the first explosion was significant. They had no “direct evidence” that linked the two explosions, but believed they were connected.

The two explosions were in the same area and within about two weeks of each other, said Mr Haslett. Explosives were used in both cases. Mr Drinkwater was believed to be standing beside the open driver’s door of a rubbish truck

when a bomb in the vehicle exploded.

“We believe he was standing up against the side of the truck looking into the cab or facing into the cab,” Mr Haslett said. Twenty detectives are still working on the case. Mr Haslett said again yesterday that he would not speculate on the motive for the killing. Explosives experts were still studying what had caused the blast. He would not comment further. Detectives are still trying to trace a darkcoloured vehicle which

was seen near the Mogal depot about 10.45 p.m. on February 17, the evening before the fatal explosion.

The vehicle has been described as dark-col-oured and of a similar shape to a 1973 Holden Premier. Registrations of such vehicles are now being checked by the police.

Mr Haslett continued his appeal for information from the public about the bombing. Persons could give the police information in confidence wherever and whenever they wanted, he said.