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Traces of blood have been found in the house of a young south Otago man whose body was found floating in the Clutha River on Saturday.
Police say it is possible Michael Anthony Hutchings, 18, was stabbed to death in his Kaitangata house, before being wrapped in a
mattress cover and put in the river.
His body was weighted down with two 50kg steel bars - the weight of the bars has led police to believe at least two people were involved in his murder.
A post mortem examination found Mr Hutchings died from stab wounds to his neck and stomach.
Detective Inspector Ross Pinkham said a forensic examination of the victim's house continued today, and traces of blood had been found.
The examination was likely to take a few more days as a detailed examination is made of the house and the surrounds.
A vehicle at the address has been secured for examination.
Mr Hutchings' body was found by a farmer on Saturday at the edge of the Clutha River, near Stirling, 7km from Balclutha.
Mr Pinkham said the bars used to weigh the body down each measured 210cm x 16cm x 2.5cm and featured several threaded bolt holes.
The distinctive holes drilled into the two steel bars suggested they had been made to specifications, perhaps for a construction site.
Members of the public had been helpful in contacting police and suggesting engineering firms the bars may have come from, and Mr Pinkham said it was a positive line of inquiry.
Police are unable to confirm how long Mr Hutchings body had been in the river, but have focused their inquiries between January 1 to January 12.
Mr Pinkham said police were seeking information from users of the river area relating to suspicious activity or sightings of vehicles which may have given cause for suspicion.
Police had now spoken to most of Mr Hutchings' friends and associates, he said.
"Balclutha is a relatively small community and most people know where most people are at."
Michael Hutchings' parents Lyn and Mark Hutchings, originally from Clinton, now live in Australia and are intending to return to New Zealand.
In a statement yesterday they requested privacy and said they would sadly miss their oldest son.
- NZPA
