Hamilton Police work to identify body found in Waikato River

As they work to complete the formal identification of a man's body recovered from the Waikato yesterday, Hamilton Police are appealing for sightings of a man near the river over recent days.

Detective Senior Sergeant Ross Patterson of the Hamilton CIB said the body of a man was located by water-skiers in the Waikato River south of the Horotiu Bridge shortly after 9am.

"The water-skiers assisted in the recovery of the man's body and Police would like to acknowledge their assistance. Our investigations to date have established the body is that of a man who went missing in Hamilton around the 19th of March.

"Though the formal identification of his body is not expected to be completed until after a post-mortem examination in Auckland today, Police are satisfied the body is not that of missing 70-year-old Kawhia man, Trevor SMITH."

Mr Patterson said while the nature of the man's death remains unexplained, his death will continue to be treated as unexplained until such time as information comes to hand on how he died.

"At this point, while expressing the Police's condolences to the man's family, investigators would like to hear from anyone who recalls seeing a man in a dark coloured hooded sweatshirt, dark pants, white sneakers and with a red and black bag on his back near any bridges or by the Waikato River on or about the night of 19 March.

"Anyone who recalls seeing a person matching this description or who has information on how the man came to be in the river is asked to contact Hamilton Police on 07 858 6200."

Alternatively, information can be left anonymously with the independent Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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