2.00pm - By RENEE KIRIONA in Napier
Hawkes Bay police are becoming more and more frustrated as their investigation into the shooting of a Napier farmer offers no new leads.
Since Jack Nicholas' body was found at his Puketitiri farm on Friday, police have not found any new evidence to lead them to the 72-year-old's killer.
Detective Inspector Godfrey Watson said the team of more than 20 police officers would today continue their sweep of the 2000-acre farm and talk with the 12 to 15 residents who lived in the isolated area, about 60 kilometres north of Napier.
"The most frustrating thing is finding out who did it and why. At the moment we have no suspects," Mr Godfrey said at a press conference this morning.
Cold weather, frost and some snow had cut the investigation short last night, he said.
A post-mortem would be carried out on the body this afternoon.
Mr Nicholas was known to have a number of encounters with trespassers on his land.
The area is well known for being hit by rustlers, dope growers and burglars.
Over the years a number of farmers had been threatened, Mr Godfrey said.
"This sort of thing happens from time to time so we will be talking with residents and farmers to see if they have come across any of this lately."
Today police would start work on identifying the owner of a suspicious car that locals had seen in the area around the time of the shooting.
They planned to talk with hunters who used the popular bushland in the area.
Mr Nicholas' wife Agnes, who found his body, is expected to make an appeal to the public through the media at 2pm.
About seven years ago Mr Nicholas released the rabbit calicivirus in the North Island.
He has been described by the local community as a "good bloke" who spoke out strongly against rustling, dope growing and other crimes.
The investigations so far:
- Yesterday police found lose cartridges on the property
- A suspicious car was seen in the area around the time of the shooting
- Police want to talk with people who use bush in the area to hunt in
- Today they will continue to scan the property and canvas the 12 to 15 residents who live in the area
Hunt for farmer's killer continues
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