Epsom motel death: Teen 'fears prison violence'

Beauen Wallace-Loretz has been on the run for three days.

Murder accused urged to turn himself in.

A teenager accused of murder and on the run after disconnecting his electronic monitoring anklet was terrified he would be returned to prison, a family friend has revealed.

Beauen Wallace-Loretz, 17, was on electronic bail awaiting trial after the death of 54-year-old Ihaia Gillman-Harrison on December 27 last year at Auckland's Ascot Epsom Motel.

By last night police had visited at least 10 properties in the hunt for Wallace-Loretz, who has been on the run for three days since he fled the Avondale address he was bailed to.

Detective Andrew Fabish said police had calls from all over the North Island but no solid leads in the search.

"We have spoken to all his associates and friends and we are doing what we can but we need more information," Fabish said.

The family friend believed Wallace-Loretz left the address because he had been targeted while in the remand section of Mt Eden Prison and was worried he would be sent back there.

"He had been beaten up when he was on remand and it had affected him," the friend claimed. "He looked like he had lost a lot of weight and was really stressed."

A spokesperson for Serco, which manages Mt Eden Prison, said there were no incident reports of violence towards Wallace-Loretz.

One of Wallace-Loretz's lawyers, Vivienne Feyen, was concerned for her client's welfare and urged him to make contact.

"Clearly the situation is of concern. He is 17 years old. Any adult would be concerned," she said.

"We would ask Beauen to hand himself in at the nearest police station or for him to call myself or [lawyer John Kovacevich] so we can help him hand himself in to police. That is in everyone's best interest."

At least six detectives were last night looking for Wallace-Loretz and speaking to family and friends.

Police believe one associate collected and drove Wallace-Loretz from the Avondale address before he cut his ankle bracelet. He called Corrections to tell them what he'd done.

The associate had been interviewed by police and part of the investigation would look at whether anyone who helped Wallace-Loretz would be charged.

Border authorities were on alert in case Wallace-Loretz, who has a current passport, tried to leave the country.

Wallace-Loretz and murder co-accused Leonard Nattrass-Berquist - who is also on electronic bail - are also accused of robbing Gillman-Harris of cash, a cellphone and bank card as well as unlawfully taking his $15,000 Range Rover.

• Anyone with information on the location of Beauen Wallace-Loretz should call Auckland Police on (09) 302 6400.