Public respond to hitchhiker murder appeal

Police want to speak to this man - Michael Scott Wallace, also known as Michael Jason Hemi or Allan Wallace.

Police hunting the killer of German hitch-hiker Birgit Brauer have received more than 100 calls from the public since releasing the name and picture of a man they want to speak to.

The man heading the investigation, Detective Senior Sergeant Grant Coward, said the subject of the man-hunt, 44-year-old Michael Scott Wallace - also known as Michael Jason Hemi or Allan Wallace - "could be anywhere".

Mr Wallace was in possession of the stolen Toyota Hilux found abandoned on the banks of the Ohau River near Levin on September 28, just over a week after Ms Brauer's body was found beaten and stabbed in Lucy's Gully in remote Taranaki.

At a specially convened press conference in New Plymouth today, Mr Coward appealed directly to Mr Wallace to give himself up.

"We are unaware of where he is, we need to talk to him," Mr Coward said, staring directly into the television cameras present.

"We want to speak to Mr Wallace and if he is watching this right now, this is a plea for him to come to the police station and talk to us."

Mr Coward admitted Wallace could be anywhere in New Zealand, but was confident he had not fled the country.

"He is a transient sort of chap. He travels through the country and has got connections in the South Island and the north of the North Island. We believe he has some bush skills and could be anywhere."

Mr Wallace had been living in Himatangi Beach in Manawatu and Mt Maunganui for the last three months.

"Horowhenua is a focus for us, particularly because the Toyota Hilux was found abandoned there.

"But what I am saying to the people of New Zealand is Michael Wallace could be anywhere in New Zealand now.

"So if they study the photograph they may have seen in the media, we would ask that they advise us, rather than approach him directly. If Michael Wallace is involved in the killing of Birgit Brauer he could be considered to be dangerous."

Mr Coward said the response from the public since police released Mr Wallace' name and description yesterday had been "tremendous" and the investigation would not have reached this stage without public assistance.

"The phones have been ringing off the hook; our last count of the calls received was over a hundred," he said.

"It will however take some time to follow up the information received and my team are working on that right now."

Today police officers are going door to door in Scott's Ferry and Tangimoana in the Horowhenua looking for Mr Wallace.

A dedicated team is answering calls to the 0800 Crimestop (0800 274637) number.

- NZPA