Burnt car linked to homicide

Police want to talk to anyone in the Kaikorai Valley Rd area, Dunedin, who may have seen people...
Police want to talk to anyone in the Kaikorai Valley Rd area, Dunedin, who may have seen people near this vehicle, which was gutted by fire early on Saturday. Photo: NZ Police.
A vehicle belonging to one of three men accused of murder was gutted by fire in Dunedin on Saturday morning, and police are appealing for witnesses.

The Dunedin men - aged 17, 25 and 47 - have been jointly charged with the murder of 23-year-old unemployed man James Mathew Ellis, whose body was discovered at Blueskin Bay estuary, Warrington, on Friday.

A Country Rd resident contacted police after noticing smoke coming from a car parked outside the Otago Squash Club in Kaikorai Valley Rd, at 5.10am on Saturday.

The vehicle - a green 1997 Mazda Capella, BCL448 - was extensively damaged.

The Otago Daily Times understands the car belongs to the father (47) of the 17-year-old co-accused. They were arrested at a Gilmerton St, Corstorphine, house on Saturday.

Detective Senior Sergeant Kallum Croudis, of the Dunedin CIB, said the vehicle was taken from Gilmerton St sometime after 8pm on Friday, and was found burnt out the following morning.

He confirmed the car had been driven to Oamaru where the three murder accused were believed to have been at the same address on Thursday night and early Friday morning, but he declined to say whether the car was at Warrington.

Det Snr Sgt Croudis said the car had been forensically examined, but he was yet to be briefed on any findings.

Police wanted to talk to anyone who travelled in Kaikorai Valley Rd late on Friday or early Saturday and who may have seen suspicious activity near the Otago Squash Club or Bowl Line.

"We are particularly keen to hear from taxi drivers and people who drive delivery vehicles who were travelling through Kaikorai Valley Rd late on Friday and early Saturday morning," Det Snr Sgt Croudis said.

Anyone with information can contact Dunedin police on (03) 471-4800.

Kati Huirapa ki te Puketeraki Runaka upoko David Ellison yesterday declared a "rahui" (ban) for three days in the Blueskin Bay inlet area.

The rahui includes seafood gathering and recreation. Kaumatua Huata Holmes performed a karakia to lift the tapu and cleanse the area yesterday.

 

 

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