By DARREL MAGER
Auckland coroner Mate Frankovich has ruled that the skeletal remains found in a Great Barrier Island bush bach in June were that of 51-year-old hermit Colin Goode, despite DNA tests being unable to prove it.
At a special coroner's hearing, police had to use circumstantial evidence alone to satisfy
Mr Frankovich that the corpse with long, grey hair and a long, grey beard was Mr Goode.
The body - with a hand missing - was the same height, 170cm, as Mr Goode, the same age and had his house keys in a trouser pocket.
Mr Frankovich has agreed to delay holding an inquest for a year, to allow police more time to complete their inquiries.
Mr Goode's remains will be released to Auckland family members, who will hold a funeral, possibly next week.
Great Barrier policeman Constable Roger Bright found the remains on June 30.
Fears had been raised by the island's postmaster when the few letters Mr Goode received started piling up.
Mr Goode was last seen alive walking back from the Claris shops after buying supplies on April 30.
The officer heading the inquiry, Detective Senior Sergeant Andy Lovelock, said Mr Goode's body was so badly decomposed that forensic scientists had been unable to confirm the cause of death.
A leading Australian forensic pathologist, who has experience in dealing with badly decomposed bodies in Bosnia, has been consulted.
Pathologists have been able to determine that Mr Goode's right hand was missing and that it was probably severed by a blunt object and not his dog, raising the possibility that he was tortured before death.
While Mr Goode's reclusive background has caused some problems for police trying to crack the mystery of who killed the known cannabis cultivator, Detective Senior Sergeant Andy Lovelock said progress was being made.
"And we're always hopeful that the killer, or someone who knows who did it, will come forward."
* Police have set up a toll-free hotline for the hermit case on 0800 437-648, or 0800 Hermit.
