A 43-year-old Auckland man was due to appear in court today in relation to a murder in South Australia 18 years ago.
DNA evidence led to the breakthrough.
The New Zealand Herald can reveal that the man, from Piha in West Auckland, was arrested at 6pm last night and will appear in the Waitakere District Court today.
The arrest came after police in South Australia allegedly linked the man by DNA to the killing of Robert Peter Sabeckis on January 13, 2000.
Sabeckis (42) was murdered at a carpark on Tuit Rd, Maslin Beach, a southern coastal suburb of Adelaide.
Sabeckis died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds.
Police allege that after the shooting the killer drove off in Sabeckis' vehicle, which was then crashed into bushes and a fence further along Tuit Rd.
He was then seen running from the vehicle across paddocks.
Police found a sawn-off shotgun and jacket in the area.
They believe the gun was used to kill Sabeckis and the jacket belonged to the killer.
The shotgun and another firearm, were stolen during a break-in at a house at Aldinga Beach south of Adelaide on New Year's Eve - just days before Sabeckis was murdered.
The house was then burned down, destroying potential forensic evidence.
DNA believed to belong to the killer was taken from several items.
It was never matched to anyone until a change in New Zealand legislation allowed overseas law enforcement agencies to apply for access.
Detective Superintendent Dave Lynch said the man was arrested in New Zealand on a warrant issued in the South Australia Magistrates court in January.
"South Australia Police will seek the man's extradition to South Australia to face the murder charge," Lynch said.
"It is expected the man will appear in Waitakere District Court today where extradition proceedings will commence."
The New Zealand Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) Act 1995 was amended in 2016 to allow access to and disclosure of information on the New Zealand DNA Database under the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 1992.
"Since legislation was changed there have been several requests from overseas law enforcement agencies, however this is the first search that hit against a profile held on the New Zealand National DNA Database," said Lynch.
He could not say why the man's DNA was on the New Zealand database but the Herald understands a sample was taken after a minor offence in the past 18 years.
Other than that offence, the man was not on the local police radar.
"Since the identification was made New Zealand Police have been working closely with their South Australian colleagues towards yesterday's arrest," Lynch said.
He added that international law enforcement agencies are working closer together to catch serious offenders who flee jurisdictions.
He could not comment further about the homicide investigation and referred media queries to South Australia Police.
This morning Detective Superintendent Des Bray said South Australia police were seeking information from anyone who recalls a 25-year-old man of Maori or Pacific Islander appearance living in Aldam St, Aldinga Beach in 2000.
"He drove a brown or gold coloured Holden Gemini and attended Adult Learning at the Christies Beach High School in 2000," he said.
"Since his arrest, police have become aware the man used the name Paul Taylor while living in South Australia."
Bray said police were also keen to hear from anyone with information about the theft of the firearms, or the pistol that was taken that night and has not been recovered.
"Investigators have a lot of work to do in connection with this matter, and information we get from the public increase the likelihood of a good outcome to the investigation," he said.
"We are grateful for the assistance we have received to date from our colleagues with the New Zealand Police, and other agencies both in New Zealand and Australia."
A $200,000 reward was offered in Australia in 2009 when police appealed for anyone with information to come forward.
"Any murder investigation raises concerns in the community and for the victim's family," Acting Superintendent Denise Gray said..
"Obviously they would like to know who the offender was.
"It was a vicious offence. He was shot twice, so it is very important for us that we solve those crimes - not only for the family but for the general community."
