More information continues to come into the investigation into the murder of Mellory Manning about vehicles that were seen in an around the corner of Manchester and Peterborough Street late in the evening of Thursday 18 December 2008.
One of the vehicles that has been previously mentioned was a Black Four Wheel Drive vehicle seen in and around the area. Black Four wheel drives are very common but a number of witnesses are quite consistent in their description of what might be the same vehicle.
In addition to that we have now had a witness come forward who gives a description of the driver of such a vehicle who approached prostitutes asking for prices.
The vehicle has been described as a late model 2000 to 2005 black shiny four wheel drive, likely to have a long wheel base. It is described as having shiny wheels and tinted windows.
This witness stated that she was standing on the corner of Peterborough and Manchester Street between 9.30 pm and 10 p.m. that evening 18 December 2008 when she was spoken to by a man driving such a vehicle. She described him as follows
Male
Caucasian
38-39 years
Very short hair, number 1 or number 2 cut
Possibly a receding hairline
Clean shaven
Didn't look tall (but he didn't get out of vehicle)
Tattoos on forearms
Blue jeans
Maybe grey sweatshirt (perhaps blue or black)
No accent, thought he was a New Zealander.
She described the vehicle as
Looked black
Dark tinted windows
Quite modern
Was big, long, four door
Registration, might have had some blue advertising around the plate
2004 - 2005 or perhaps newer.
The witness said they discussed prices and he said he was shopping and would get back to her.
A similar described vehicle was seen in the same area at around 10.25 p.m. by people driving past. Another witness has described seeing either a dark blue or black four wheel drive parked on Peterborough Street close to the corner of Manchester Street at around 10.30 p.m.
Some aspects of this vehicle fit the description of the dark four wheel drive seen at Avonside Drive at about 11 pm where the splash was heard but we are unable to say yet if they are connected.
I hope that the driver of the Black Four Wheel drive will come forward and speak with us or that we might hear from somebody who knows who this is.
Greg Williams
Detective Inspector
O/C Op Dallington