Clinton murder victim stabbed 51 times

The farm worker murdered in his flat in the South Otago town of Clinton this week was stabbed 51 times, police said today.

Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Wood said John Bruce Hendry, 40, died from loss of blood as a result of the multiple stab wounds.

"Mr Hendry was stabbed 51 times is what is described as a frenzied and brutal attack. Police are now looking for a sharp instrument, most likely a knife," Mr Wood, the murder inquiry head, said in a statement today.

The preliminary findings from the post mortem were given by forensic pathologist Martin Sage. The body will be released to family later today.

Mr Wood said police were seeking public help in the hunt for Mr Hendry's killer.

There was a possibility that blood-stained clothing may have been dumped or disposed of in the area.

Mr Hendry was killed in his Clinton flat in the early hours of Monday morning.

Police are hoping to firm up on a description of a car seen and heard leaving the Halsey Street flat after a commotion was heard inside.

A team of more than 30 police have set up base at the Clinton Bowling Club in South Otago in their search for the killer of Mr Hendry, who served a 2-1/2-year jail term in 1996.

Police are interviewing dozens of locals as well as contacts in Oamaru where he used to live with his adopted family.

They have have set up a freephone line 0800 OP HALSEY (0800-674-257) for information from the public.

- NZPA