Police make blunder over German backpacker murder investigation

Birgit Brauer (left) and a friend from her hostel.

A police blunder saw crucial information about the murder of German backpacker Birgit Brauer posted on a public website.

Police accidentally posted details on a police website about the way Ms Brauer's body was found - details only the killer would know.

Detective Senior Sergeant Grant Coward said the information was "mistakenly released" and soon removed from the site.

"We absolutely don't want that information reported," Detective Coward said.

Ms Brauer, 28, was found dead in Taranaki with massive head injuries and a stab wound to the heart. She was last seen getting into a dark grey or black four-wheel-drive with off-road ground clearance, at Waitotara about 9.30am on Tuesday. Her clothed body was found by a jogger near Lucy's Gully in Egmont National Park, near New Plymouth, that evening.

Police said there was no evidence of sexual assault.

The area has since been blessed and is now open to the public. Police confirmed yesterday Ms Brauer's elderly parents were too devastated to travel to New Zealand to collect their daughter's body. "They don't speak any English and don't want to travel 30 hours to a foreign country. This is just terrible for them," Detective Coward said.

New Zealand police were making arrangements for Ms Brauer's body to be returned to her home city, Dresden, and were talking to her family through the German consulate. They intended speaking today with Ms Brauer's flatmate in Germany, with whom she was in daily contact.

"We haven't spoken to her yet because of the time difference, but we will be doing that as soon as it is a decent hour in Germany," Detective Coward said.

Ms Brauer's tight-knit group of friends at the Queenstown hostel where she lived for two months, were shocked and devastated by her death. "There are a lot of very upset people here at the moment," friend Tony Stenton told the Herald on Sunday.

Police did not tell Ms Brauer's room-mates at Deco Backpackers she was dead until Thursday night. "There are only about 30 of us here so we all knew her really well. Her room-mate, another German girl called Maike, can't even talk at the moment," Mr Stenton said.

Ms Brauer lived at the backpackers for two months and worked as a housekeeper at the nearby Outrigger hotel. She enjoyed tramping, had just been in Stewart Island and had had more expeditions planned.

"She was from a city but she was into nature and just loved everything and everyone," Mr Stenton said.

"Of all the people in the world, it shouldn't have been Birgit."

Mr Stenton said Ms Brauer was a trusting person who took everything in her stride.

"In her two months here, I never saw her angry or annoyed. She just took everything as it came. She was a pleasure to have around."

Ken Harris from the Outrigger said staff were shocked when told of Ms Brauer's death. He said staff would be offered counselling as a matter of course.

"We have lost someone who was a great young lady. She was a huge asset to us here and we want to celebrate her life and the memories."

Police are still looking for the vehicle and driver that picked up Ms Brauer from Waitotara. They are appealing for sightings and are also seeking Ms Brauer's missing property - a large backpack and a day pack, a silver digital camera, German passport, wallet, diary, clothing, a stone collection, a cellphone, prescription glasses and brown sneakers with red and yellow detailing.

A phone company is also helping police track down Ms Brauer's cellphone.

Ms Brauer bought a 600ml bottle of Kiwi Blue water in Waitotara before being picked up. Police hope this, and other details, might jog the memories of people who may have seen her.

Detective Coward said he and his staff were determined to find Ms Brauer's killer.

"We are working long and hard to achieve the desired result," he added.

Anyone with information should contact New Plymouth police on 0800 Crimestop (0800 274 637).

- HERALD ON SUNDAY