KEY POINTS:
Knives have been found throughout the Auckland area but police investigating the slaying of good Samaritan Austin Hemmings are yet to find the one they are looking for.
Detective Senior Sergeant Gerry Whitley said many people had called about knives but the one they believed was used to
fatally stab Mr Hemmings had not yet been found.
Police are also trying to find a taxi driver who is believed to have driven the alleged killer from central Auckland shortly after the stabbing.
Mr Whitley said enquiries were continuing.
"We haven't reached what we want yet but we're working on it," he said.
Mr Hemmings went to help a woman who screamed for help as a man threatened her in Mills Lane about 5.30pm on Thursday.
Police believe the killer used a taxi to leave the city and want to hear from any cab driver who may have driven him to Mangere or Mangere Bridge.
They have not said what happened between the time Mr Hemmings was killed and the time the man was caught, but it would appear he spent time in Mangere before moving to Otahuhu.
Members of the armed offenders squad arrested him at 4.30 the next morning at a house in Otahuhu.
Mr Hemmings' body is now lying at his family's Devonport home - something his brother Craig says is bittersweet, because he is with them, but not there.
"When I look at him I see his face and it brings back all the memories in my mind ... I see his clothes in the closet, his shoes - all those things ... It brings you to tears."
"[But] we believe that the body is only a shell and his soul and spirit departs, so that's the important part too. We draw comfort from the fact he's in heaven."
Members of the family's church, the Holy Trinity Church in Devonport, yesterday prayed for Mr Hemmings and his loved ones. The Rev Charmaine Braatvedt said the service was dedicated to his selfless act.
"When it counted he said, 'Yes', to a call from a hurting human being, rose to the challenge of extreme discipleship and poured out his life for her. In doing so, Austin bore witness to the transforming power of God's love," she told the congregation.
"For how else can one explain how an ordinary businessman returning home from an ordinary day at the office could set aside in such a selfless way the strongest of all drives, the drive to survive, in the interests of unconditional love."
Ms Braatvedt said the congregation also prayed for the police, the distressed woman, the killer and society.
She said Mr Hemmings' widow, Jenny, and their three teenagers did not attend the service but allowed the story to be told.
She said there was tears and sadness from the worshippers but also an enormous appreciation of the way in which Mr Hemmings acted.
"I wish we could turn back the clock and pray for a different outcome to that tragic series of events, give him back to his beautiful family.
"However, I do know that what he did was what Jesus would have done."
Ms Braatvedt will conduct the funeral service at 1.30pm on Wednesday.
Craig Hemmings said members of the public were welcome to attend. It is understood two representatives of the police will also attend as a mark of respect for Mr Hemmings and his family.
Police would like anyone with information on the killing to call them on (09) 302-6567.
* A 45-year-old sickness beneficiary appeared in court on Friday morning charged with assaulting a female and was remanded in custody.
Police say he will face more serious charges in relation to the homicide when he reappears in court on October 17.
