ASHBURTON - Kirsty Bentley's family say they felt they were on trial as police investigated her murder.
As the $50,000 reward period nears expiry, Kirsty's mother, Jill Bentley, yesterday criticised the manner of officers on the case.
Sixteen-year-old Kirsty disappeared while walking her dog near the family's Ashburton home on New Year's
Eve 1998. Her body was found 10 days later in the Rakaia Gorge.
Mrs Bentley said the police seemed at first to believe that Kirsty had run away from home. They thought she "had been up to all kinds of mischief." They did not take her disappearance as seriously as the family did.
"They had not known her. Anyone who did thought that was totally ridiculous. But they [the police] had made up their minds."
Mrs Bentley said that when Kirsty's body was found, the police turned their attention to herself, husband Sid and son John.
"They cast suspicion on the family. That was incredibly hard. We were going through the trauma of losing our daughter and to have members of the family pointed at made us feel tainted."
Mrs Bentley said some officers had been extremely committed and she did not want to slate them all. But she thought the investigation lacked focus.
The reward period expires this Saturday and Mrs Bentley pleaded with anyone with information to go to the police.
The officer in charge of the case, Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Williams, declined to comment on Mrs Bentley's claims.
He said the reward period had been extended once and could be again. The reward offered immunity from prosecution for any accomplice in the case. It had resulted in little information.
Two police officers were continuing inquiries fulltime in Ashburton and the homicide investigation was working from Christchurch.
"People are still calling with fresh information. We're in for the long haul." - NZPA
