Resident may have heard victim call

Press, 25 July 1986, Page 5

Resident may have heard victim call

A cry for help heard by a resident at Waimairi Beach may have been the last words of the stabbing victim, Dale Puru, before he died. It seemed almost certain that he was assaulted or attacked elsewhere but was still alive when dumped at the lay-by, near Broad Park, Waimairi Beach, said Detective Inspector Roger Carson, who heads the inquiry.

Indications were that Mr Puru was attacked again in the lay-by, he said.

About 30 detectives are working on the case, including eight from Dunedin and Invercargill. Mr Carson believes that Mr Puru, aged 21, was taken to the lay by some-

time between midnight and 4 a.m. on Sunday, July 20.

His blood-smattered body was discovered in the lay-by at 6 a.m. on Sunday. He died from multiple stab wounds. It was obvious that he bled to death pt the scene, Mr Carson said. A resident who lives near Broad Park thought he heard a call for help between 11 p.m. and midnight on Saturday. He looked out and saw car lights near the lay-by but decided against venturing out alone to see what was happening. The area is often rowdy on Friday and Saturday nights with youths drinking and breaking beer bottles.

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Chrysler Valiant car, believed to have been used to take Mr Puru to the lay-by, and investigations had produced a “ton of information," said Mr Carson.

The police had a number of suspects and the possible motives had been whittled down to two or three, he said. Metal detectors were used yesterday to try to uncover a weapon. All they revealed was about 100 cans. Mr Carson said that experts were also brought in to "freeze” the many shoe prints and tyre marks in danger of disappearing as the sand dried.

Lacquer sprays proved the most effective means of preservation, he said.