“[Thorpe] was someone who, I read, wouldn’t have hurt anyone, and so we wonder how something like this could happen, and we all need to be careful.”
He said his office had been in touch with the police Auckland city west area commander, and he believed police were doing the best they could.
“They’re on 24/7 deployment. They’re talking to witnesses, the usual CCTV search from the houses that could have a view of the place. So we will wait and see.”
He said at this stage of the investigation, community safety was important as the killer had not yet been caught.
“We don’t know who’s out there, who’s done that, why it’s been done, and right there where everybody walks through. I walk through the Blockhouse Bay Tennis Club, that’s a very public place,” he said.
Violent struggle before death
Police had earlier revealed a “violent struggle” took place between Thorpe and his attacker.
Their attention was focused on finding Thorpe’s attacker, who was likely wearing blood-stained clothing after the fatal stabbing.
Police continue to investigate the stabbing of scientist Stephen Thorpe near the Blockhouse Bay Tennis Club yesterday. Photo / Michael Craig.
Baldwin said there was a “large amount of blood” at the scene and some of that would have transferred to the killer.
“This offender will have gone somewhere, likely in an agitated state and likely with some blood on him. Someone will know who this person is and I challenge them to do the right thing and come forward.”
Rachel Maher is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. She has worked for the Herald since 2022.
