KEY POINTS:
Police say they have a possible sighting of a car at the centre of their investigation into the murder of a Christchurch prostitute.
Ngatai Lynette Manning, 27, also known as Mellory, was found by a kayaker in the Avon River, near Dallington Terrace, east of the city centre, about 6.50am on Friday.
She suffered extensive injuries and was believed to have been dead before entering the water.
Police have confirmed they are looking for two weapons.
Detective Inspector Greg Williams told Radio New Zealand today there had been a possible sighting of the car that Ms Manning got into at around 10.35pm last Thursday.
The client that picked her up at that time had not come forward.
People travelling on Dallington Terrace around 11.10pm saw a white saloon vehicle parked on an angle on the grass between the river and road, said Mr Williams.
The possible sighting was being fully investigated and he was positive he was going to find the vehicle.
An "Alltrade" pocket knife, with a small blade, was found close to where Ms Manning's body was found.
Mr Williams said Ms Manning's partner had not seen the knife before.
The knife was being examined by ESR scientists and no one had told police they had lost the knife or dropped it in the river, he said.
He did not think the knife caused any of Ms Manning's major injuries.
Mr Williams said he would be releasing more information on the injuries today but would be speaking to her family first.
Police were also looking Ms Manning's shoes and boots.
Mr Williams said police were looking at surveillance footage around the area where Ms Manning was murdered.
Meanwhile, her father has appealed for people to contact police if they suspect they know who the killer is.
Pierre Manning told The Press his daughter's murder was a second blow for the family after the death of her Auckland-based sister, Jasmine.
The sisters had suffered sexual abuse and had become regular drug users by their late teens, he said.
They were on the streets at 17.
After an 18-month-long jail term, Ms Manning quickly returned to drugs, said Mr Manning.
His daughter had had a tough life and may be "better off dead", although "not the way she died", he said.
- NZPA