Houses raided

Press, 28 July 1986, Page 1

Houses raided

Detectives raided several houses in Christchurch yesterday as they continued the investigation into the killing of Dale Puru, whose battered body was found at Waimairi Beach eight days ago. The man who heads the investigation, Detective Inspector Roger Carson, said later that the police had seized. some articles "quite significant” to the case. He declined to say what the items were.

The occupants of the houses were also spoken to by detectives.

The police are still not sure whether they have the weapon which was used to kill Mr Puru, aged 21. Mr Puru’s beaten and stabbed body was found at a lay-by near Broad Park, Waimairi Beach.

Forensic tests are being made on about eight possible weapons held by the police, but Mr Carson has urged anyone who finds a “sharp instrument” near Broad Park to get in touch with the police.

Mr Carson said last evening that detectives were following positive lines of inquiry.

The reason for the killing of Mr Puru had been narrowed to “a couple of possibilities,” he said. He declined to say more on the motive. Mr Puru had a number of criminal convictions and had been released from Paparua Prison

about three weeks before his death. He had served a sentence for car conversion.

Mr Puru had been a member of the Black Power gang in Hamilton and associated with members of the-Christchurch chapter of the gang. • Thirty detectives, including eight ? from Dunedin and Invercargill, continued work on the case throughout the weekend.

Mr Ruru was buried in his family’s cemetery at Matangi, near Hamilton, on Friday. About 200 mourners had attended a tangi on the Tauwhare marae at Matangi.