Manawatu Police are seeking information about a vehicle linked to the gunshot killing of Pahiatua man James Poto Whatuira, 49 in Woodville on Sunday.
Whatuira, known to most as Poto, was found dead in an Ormond St house on Sunday and police want to hear of any sightings of a 2005, silver Ford Falcon XR6 Saloon, registration CRL12, found at the Woodville property.
Police involved are not prepared to discuss who the vehicle belongs to at this stage.
"This is a vehicle of interest to our investigation and was located at the Ormond St property when officers attended last Sunday, January 4," Detective Senior Sergeant Simon Harrison of the Palmerston North Police said. "It is believed Mr Whatuira travelled to the property in this vehicle sometime on the Sunday.
"Piecing together this vehicle's movements is a crucial part of our investigation and we appeal to anyone who saw the vehicle in the Pahiatua and Woodville areas between 7am and 3pm on the Sunday to contact police.
"The sightings will also help establish if anyone else was in the vehicle at the time."
Meanwhile, Woodville residents have told the Dannevirke News life in the town is continuing as normal, albeit with a large police presence.
"These things don't usually happen in Woodville," a former police officer who lives in the town said. "But we've had some notoriety lately because a shooting is quite sensational and of course we had the drug dominatrix case here last year."
Dominatrix Jolene Rose, 37, a mother of three, was last year sentenced to 20 years in jail after police busted her multimillion-dollar methamphetamine business. She also forfeited the $764,830 cash she had hidden around her property.
Anyone with information regarding Operation Ormond is asked to contact Detective Constable Claire Adkins on (06) 210 2201.
Information can also be provided anonymously to the organisation Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
By Christine McKay of Hawke's Bay Today
