Police hunt killers after strange links in deaths

A double murder inquiry is under way in Tauranga into the deaths of two men police believe were killed in eerily similar circumstances.
Darrell James Crawford, 35, and William Taikato, 40, have both been missing for a number of months.
Detective Sergeant Darryl Brazier said police have been told by reliable sources that both men were dead. But he would not reveal when, how or why they were killed. He would also not confirm if it was drug or gang related.
"We are keeping a pretty open mind as to who is responsible," he told the Bay of Plenty Times.
The two men disappeared at different times but the cases have several similarities including the fact they knew each other.
Mr Crawford went missing about August 12 last year, followed by Mr Taikato, who was last seen about December 18. Both knew the same people and were heavily ensconced in the Tauranga drug scene.
The two lived within 5km of each other _ Mr Taikato on Kaitemako Rd in Welcome Bay, and Mr Crawford on Oropi Rd. Both men were last seen at their home addresses.
Detective Sergeant Darryl Brazier said: "They're separate investigations being run at the same time.
"We can also say that they know each other and they probably know the same circle of people."
But while there were similarities, they were not necessarily related, he said.
Since the two men were reported as missing, only one of their cars has been recovered _ Mr Crawford's grey Nissan Cefiro. It was found with the keys still in the ignition, unlocked, in a remote rural area of Oropi.
His flatmates were the last to see him on the morning of August 12.
Mr Taikato's car has yet to be located, and police are keen to find it.
"What we want is anything from members of the public that might know what's happened to these people or more in particular, that car," he said.
Mr Taikato was also involved with ``multiple gangs' in the Tauranga area, but Mr Brazier would not say which ones.
"It's irrelevant really who he was involved with because it might not be that those people were involved in his death," he said.
Mr Brazier said neither man had touched their sickness benefits or bank accounts since around the date of their disappearances. The families of the men were anxious to find out the truth, he said.
"These people have families, so needless to say they are very concerned over the disappearance of those two members," he said.
Any information can be reported by calling Tauranga police on 577 4300 or anonymously on 0800 SPEAK UP.