MEDIA RELEASE No. 20
I wish to advise that we are posting a reward of $50,000 for material information or evidence, which leads to the identity and conviction of any person or persons responsible for the death of Ngatai (Mellory) MANNING.
This reward will remain in force until 31 December 2009.
I view this as another tool in bringing to justice the person or people responsible for Mellory's murder.
Also attached to this release is the photograph of two vehicles.
The first is a shiny black four Wheel drive, four doors. This vehicle has travelled through the intersection of Manchester Street and Bealey Avenue at 10.41 p.m. on the evening of 18 December 2008. This would be about the right time if Mellory was picked up at the corner of Peterborough Street and Manchester Street at about 10.40 p.m. I am not saying that this vehicle specifically picked Mellory up but we would like to speak with the vehicle's occupants as they were in the area at the time. I believe that it has the picture of a deer or stag on the spare wheel cover, on the back of the vehicle, which is common with Japanese imports.
This is the description of one of the drivers of a shiny black four wheel drive that was approaching prostitutes that night:
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 (Can't give any further description other than on both arms) • Blue jeans • Maybe grey sweatshirt (perhaps blue or black) • No accent, thought he was a New Zealander.
There are also two photographs of a blue Toyota Surf coloured taken at the intersection of Manchester Street and Cashel Street between 10.30 p.m. and 11 p.m. the same evening. It appears to be the same vehicle and appears to be cruising up and down the street, as a number of cars were that night. This could be the vehicle that stopped and spoke to a prostitute outside St Luke's Church at about 10.35 p.m. that evening after doing a U-turn. In addition to the description of that vehicle and its occupants already released it is possible that this vehicle had a mechanical float used for concrete work (referred to by the witness as a Kelly Float) in the back of it covered with a blue tarpaulin.
This is the description of the male in the Blue Surf who approached the prostitute outside St Luke's Church. He is described as a male Caucasian, slim, with grey stubble, balding at the front with brown greying hair at the back. She said that he was rough looking and was wearing a blue jersey with holes in it.
Greg Williams
Detective Inspector
Op Dallington