Ngati "Mellory" Lynette Manning, known as Mel, was picked up from her usual spot at Christchurch's red-light district, on the corner of Manchester and Peterborough Sts, on the night of Thursday, December 18, 2008. She was then brutally murdered.
The 27-year-old's battered body was found dumped in the Avon River. Police have always believed that many people were involved in her grisly killing.
And on Friday, nearly 13 years after her death, Detective Inspector Greg Murton made fresh call to try and get new leads in the case.
"In particular we are seeking to identify 'Male B' whose DNA profile was obtained from a semen sample located during a post-mortem examination," said Murton.
Manning had been a street worker for many years and was described by Murton as being "a street-wise feisty young lady who knew all about the dangers of her business".
"Mel had not been seen on the street for some time, but it was close to Christmas and she wanted to earn money to buy Christmas presents for her family," he said.
That night, Manning was offered a ride into town and arrived at her corner at about 9.30pm.
There were many sightings of Manning at the time standing on her corner looking for business.
She was wearing a distinctive pink skirt and a blue and white polka dot bikini top.
Between 9.30pm and 10.35pm, Manning is known to have had two clients. They have been identified and spoken to by police.
The last known sighting of Manning was at about 10.35-10.40pm at her corner.
She was in possession of her own cellphone and she sent a series of texts to one of her previous clients that night at about 10.43pm.
The cell site data on that text indicates that she was on the move, likely in a vehicle, and had left her corner, police say.
At about 6.40am on Friday December 19, 2008, Manning's body was found floating in the Avon River near Dallington Terrace.
Operation Dallington, the investigation into her death, was commenced.
"This investigation has now been going for approximately 13 years and it has been a complex and challenging investigation," Murton said.
"It was clear that Mel was subjected to a prolonged and violent assault that caused her death.
"It is also the belief of the investigation team that due to the nature of her injuries, a number of persons were involved in her death."
A post-mortem examination was undertaken, and a semen sample was located from which a DNA profile was obtained - which is referred to as the Male B sample.
The known clients who had been with Manning on the Thursday evening have been eliminated as being Male B.
"The investigation team was extremely hopeful at the time that the Male B DNA sample would be matched to someone on the criminal DNA database," Murton said.
"Unfortunately, that was not the case.
"Considerable time and effort has been spent by the investigation team to obtain DNA samples from persons of interest over the last 13 years who were not on the criminal DNA database.
"Unfortunately, we have not been able to identify Male B."
Information is now sought from members of the public who may have information as to the identity of Male B or have any other information as to who was involved in Manning's death and what occurred that night.
"Police urge these people to come forward to give the family some closure," Murton added
- If you have information that may help police, phone 105 and quote 'Operation Dallington' or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
