Commissioner visits suspect-catching students

Dunedin flatmates involved in the capture of alleged offender Shiloh Rickard were reported to be “over the moon” about receiving a personal visit from Commissioner Howard Broad.

Members of the Harrow Street flat found Rickard hiding in their garden shed on 15 July, about 36 hours after a 25-year-old Caversham woman was found dead with multiple stab wounds.

Rickard, at that stage, was the subject of a Police manhunt. Twenty-two-year-old accounting student Hayden Wingfield - son of Timaru Prosecutions Sergeant Mike Wingfield - was putting his bike away in the garden shed of his flat and came across Rickard.

While initially not recognising him, Hayden confronted him. Rickard told him he was looking for his dog. After a verbal exchange, Hayden then realised who he was dealing with.

His flatmate - Mark Patterson - also happened to be looking out the window of their flat and recognised Rickard. Mark called police, while Hayden followed him at a safe distance, and was then able to direct AOS members to his whereabouts down a driveway.

Commissioner Broad, in Dunedin following the ordeal, thought it would be a nice gesture to visit the students and thank them in person for their quick-thinking and sensible efforts.

A former Dunedin student himself, Howard discussed the flatmates’ experience and also delved into the subject of student rents.

Police Commissioner Howard Broad with the Dunedin ‘scarfies’ - thanking them for their efforts during the manhunt for Shiloh Rickard. Clockwise from left - Mark Patterson, Tony Thompson, Johann Schutte and Hayden Wingfield.