Alert: Media relase - Operation Dallington in Canterbury District, 8:00pm 19 Feb 2009

New Zealand Police Alert 8:00pm 19 Feb 2009 Canterbury

Location of incident: Christchurch

Incident type: Media relase - Operation Dallington

OPERATION DALLINGTON

MEDIA RELEASE No. 20

Thursday 19 February 2009

2015 hours

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 was announced tonight on the Ten Seven Programme.

This reward was approved by the Acting Commissioner Rob POPE and was signed on 16 February 2008. It will remain in force until 31 December 2009.

I view this as another tool in bringing to justice the person or persons responsible for Mellory's murder.

Also attached to this release is the photograph of two vehicles that we released tonight on the Ten Seven Programme.

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 was the description we have released in press release No 19 about 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. While not established 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 Lukes 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 Lukes 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

$50,000 REWARD

OPERATION Dallington

Ngatai (Mellory) MANNING

Ngatai MANNING (known as Mellory) was last seen alive at 10.35 p.m. Thursday 18 December 2008 standing Manchester Street Christchurch working as a prostitute. Her body was located in the Avon River at about 6.30 a.m. the next morning.

A post mortem established that Mellory was subjected to a very violent assault that caused her death.

It is hereby notified that a reward of up to FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($50,000) will be paid 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.

The Commissioner of Police will determine the amount of the reward and will, if necessary, apportion payment where there is more than one claimant.

This offer shall remain in force until the 31st December 2009.

R J POPE

Acting Commissioner of Police

Dated at Wellington this 16th day of February 2009

ANYONE WITH INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT: their nearest Police Station or ring 0800 626646 or 0800 MANNING

(Attention Media outlets. Those wanting copies of the vehicle photographs should contact the Christchurch Police media officer so they can be e-mailed directly to you.)

Issued By: Inspector John Doherty

ENDS

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