Norfolk Island mystery deepens

Glenn McNeill. Photo / Supplied

Police have swooped on the Norfolk Island house once occupied by a New Zealand man, amid new questions about whether he committed the island's first murder in 150 years.

Glenn McNeill, a former chef from Nelson, is serving a life sentence in an Australian prison for the 2002 murder of Sydney woman Janelle Patton.

But this week, he said in a TVNZ documentary that he had only helped dispose of the body - and he has provided police the names of the alleged murderers, a man and woman.

Key to his new defence is that he buried a pair of latex surgical gloves in his backyard while disposing of Patton's body on the Easter Sunday of that year.

Patton's remains were found at Cockpit Waterfall Reserve, a well-known local tourist spot.

The Herald on Sunday has confirmed that on Friday, local police went to the Little Cutters Corn property where McNeill previously lived. Neighbours said two police cars were parked outside the house while officers combed the back garden.

Speaking from her home in Nelson, McNeill's mother Lynn said she welcomed the fact police were taking the issues raised seriously.

"We hope they will properly investigate Glenn's claims by reopening the case," she said. "Both our family and Janelle's family need to know the whole truth about what happened to her."

A spokeswoman for the Australian Federal Police confirmed Norfolk Island officers had gone there "seeking potential further evidence based on information provided" by New Zealand documentary-maker Bryan Bruce.

"The AFP is evaluating all the information provided and until any further evidence is obtained, the investigation into the murder of Janelle Patton has not been reopened," the spokeswoman said.

The police would not say whether the latex gloves were found.

But McNeill's reference to the gloves could explain why only one of his fingerprints was found on a sheet of black plastic which was used to wrap Patton's body.

The former chef claimed that a man and woman who were involved in drugs on the island killed the 29-year-old hotel worker.

Police came under added pressure to take a fresh look at the case yesterday after the victim's father, Ron Patton of Sydney, agreed that the latest claims should be investigated.

He said if McNeill was telling the truth the couple's DNA should be compared with that of an unidentified female found on his daughter's shorts.

"If other people were found to be involved then they should be brought to justice," he said.

Patton emphasised that he had no complaints about the way the original investigation had been handled, and said it was a pity McNeill had not revealed the names earlier.

"Why has it taken him so long? It should have been presented at the trial.

"If he is distorting the truth to minimise his role then he's going about it the wrong way," Patton said.

McNeill, who is serving a minimum 18 years behind bars, has claimed he did not reveal the identities at the time because of the threats made against him and his then partner, Aliesha.