Police are reviewing new information about the 1998 murder of David John Robinson after canvassing the small West Coast settlement of Kakapotahi.
In a statement this morning, Detective Inspector Geoff Baber said after re-interviewing people earlier this month, new information and lines of inquiry had come to light.
“The dedicated investigation team based in Hokitika Police Station, are following these new leads, and are interviewing new people now located across the West Coast and some other parts of the South Island.”
The initial homicide investigation began on December 28 in 1998, after the body of David, 26, was located on a remote West Coast beach near Ross, where it had laid for up to two weeks.
"Cold cases like David’s murder are periodically reviewed with the aim of identifying opportunities to solve them and bring closure to loved ones, Det Insp Baber said.
“Our goal is to get justice for David, and answers for his family.”
It had been reported that a single gunshot was heard by a number of people in Kakapotahi between December 14 and 18 about 10am and 10.30am - approximately two weeks before the body was located about 3km away, he said.
“There has been no explanation to date as to what that single gunshot was. If you know something, we encourage you to come forward and speak to us.”
• People with information that could help the investigation were asked to email via the Cold Case form on the New Zealand Police website, or call 105 and reference the case number 231129/2221.
- APL
