Levin homicide investigation

Levin Police have now completed a scene examination at the property where Michael Valentine was fatally stabbed on Friday 1, February 2013.

The post-mortem has also been completed.

Officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Senior Sergeant Marc Hercock says: “The preliminary post-mortem results identify a single stab wound to the chest. We believe this has been caused by a knife.”

The preliminary post-mortem results identified no other significant injuries to Mr Valentine.

Police understand that there have been some comments on social media over the past 36-hours that describe the type of alleged injuries Mr Valentine has received during the incident, and the alleged friends that inflicted them.

“We are only 48-hours into this investigation and there are still a number of lines of inquiry to follow, not to mention collation of evidence.

“I want to make it clear that at no stage have Police said that the three men arrested were friends of Mr Valentines. We have spoken to all the witnesses we believe to have been at the scene at the time of the stabbing. They have provided us with information that gave us the lines of inquiry to locate the three offenders.

“The comments on social media are not consistent with what we know. As I have reiterated previously this is still an active investigation and because matters are before the courts we cannot comment any further on what specifically happened without potentially jeopardising the work done so far.

“The 15 staff deployed on this investigation are working incredibly hard to respond to any information we receive. When information can’t be validated such as some of the claims on social media, these impede the progress we are making.

“We want your assistance and any information you have in relation to this investigation. Please contact us directly at the Levin Police Station, or alternatively through Crimestoppers. Social media in these circumstances is not the right channel,” says Detective Senior Sergeant Hercock.

Police are still appealing to the public for sightings of a white 1997 Mitsubishi Pajero, 4WD, registration CTJ418, between the hours of 6pm to midnight Friday 1, February.

If you have seen the Pajero vehicle between the specified times, or have any information relevant to this investigation please contact the Levin Police Station on (06) 366 0500. Alternatively information can be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

There has been a change of court for the 31-year-old Levin man charged with murder, and the 29-year-old charged with assault. They will both appear in the Palmerston North District Court tomorrow (Monday 4, February) [Correction: The 22-year-old charged with assault will appear in the Levin District Court on Thursday 7 February, not 4 February as previously advised. ].

The 22-year-old charged with assault will still appear in the Levin District Court on Thursday 4 February.

Police cannot add any further comment at this stage as the matter is before the courts.
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