The driver of a Ford Falcon sedan may hold the key to the brutal killing of Christchurch woman Mellory Manning.
The 27-year-old streetwalker met a violent death on the night of December 18, which police believe involved her being rendered unconscious before being stabbed and then bashed with a blunt weapon.
Her body was found in the Avon River, east of the city centre, the following morning.
Police said today a witness who knew Ms Manning had seen her get into a Falcon car some time after 10.15pm on the night she died.
Detective Inspector Greg Williams, the officer heading the inquiry into Ms Manning's death, said police had a confirmed sighting of her standing on the corner of Peterborough and Manchester St about 10.33 pm.
"Mellory smiled at the two witnesses as they walked by," he said.
"They also saw that Mellory had her black cardigan hanging in the tree next to them. One of these witnesses returned back through this intersection between 10.43 and 10.45 pm and Mellory was gone." Mr Williams said police now had a witness come forward who was in the area about the same time and confirmed seeing Ms Manning arrive back in a vehicle about 10.15 pm. Police had identified that vehicle.
"This witness tells us that they have seen a Falcon motor vehicle drive down Manchester Street and turn left into Peterborough Street and stop just around the corner." The car was described as being like an XR6 or XR8 model, navy blue in colour, with a distinctive red stripe.
"This witness has seen Mellory walk over to the car, open the door and get in. The witness says that the vehicle remained there for a short period and was still there with Mellory in it when the witness left the area.
"The witnesses personally knew Mellory. We cannot say if Mellory got out of this vehicle or left the area in this vehicle." Mr Williams said there were indications that two similar vehicles had been in the area in recent weeks.
One of them, driven by a man known as John who was well known to the girls who worked the area, had been eliminated from the inquiry.
"The other has yet to be identified but it is likely was picking girls up," said Mr Williams.
He said the person driving had not made contact with police, who were now getting in touch with local known registered owners of XR6 and XR8 Falcons.
Mr Williams said that an Indian man, driving a white car, had been incorrectly reported as being a client of Ms Manning.
"The Indian gentleman had pulled to the side of the road and was engaging the services of another prostitute that was standing on the corner of Peterborough and Manchester Street at about the key time that we are looking at.
"I stress that he is not considered as a suspect at all and we simply want to talk to him about what he may have seen." Mr Williams said police had also not yet identified a dark blue or black 4WD with tinted windows and highly polished wheels which was also at the corner at the same time.
A reduced police team worked on the inquiry over the holiday period, but was back to full strength today.
Meanwhile, a memorial service is to be held for Ms Manning at St Luke's on Manchester St on Monday at 3.30pm.
