KEY POINTS:
A cyclist who Napier police wanted to speak to in relation to the brutal murder of a woman in her home last month has been eliminated from the inquiry.
Police last week asked the public for information about the man, who was seen cycling near the home of
Chattrice Maihi-Carroll, 46, the morning she was found dead in her Cottrell Cres, Onekawa, home on January 21.
Mrs Maihi-Carroll, a mother-of-four who lived alone, was found by family members.
She had been stabbed many times, and may also have been sexually assaulted.
Members of the public reported seeing a cyclist with blood smeared on his face and his chest.
However, the head of the murder investigation, Detective Inspector Sam Aberahama, said police had now spoken with the man and were satisfied he was not involved with Mrs Maihi-Carroll's death.
"We have spoken to several other people in relation to this matter and it has transpired that he was in a fight with another person on the morning of January 21 - hence the blood on his face and chest."
Mr Aberahama said police were also nearing the end of their inquiries into a green Toyota Estima people mover seen parked at the top of the driveway leading to the block of flats where Ms Maihi-Carroll lived.
All the owners spoken to so far had also been eliminated from the inquiry.
Mr Aberahama said there had been a good response from the public as a result of a leaflet drop carried out by Ms Maihi-Carroll's family earlier this week.
The family distributed 1200 flyers to houses in the Maraenui and Onekawa South areas of Napier.
"As a result of that, a Flaxmere woman and her whanau have offered to distribute a similar number of flyers around their suburb to try to prompt more people to come forward with information."
Mr Aberahama said the offer was gracious and would be extremely helpful to the investigation.
"This will be a great way of spreading the word to another community. The more help we receive the better."
Police are still urging people to come forward with information about any suspicious or unusual behaviour in the Cottrell Cres area over the weekend of 19-21 January.
A team of 35 police officers are working on the inquiry.
- NZPA
