'Career criminal' in clear on dairy killing

Detective Inspector Bernie Hollewand said police still need the public's help. Picture / Brett Phibbs

A man arrested in New Plymouth yesterday after police said he was a suspect in an Auckland murder, has effectively been cleared of the crime by police.

Christopher Robert Smith, 33, was named by police as a career criminal wanted for questioning over the shooting death of dairy worker Bhagubhai Vaghela in Auckland last Sunday.

When he was arrested, a gun similar to that used in Mr Vaghela's shooting was found with him.

However, the murder team looking for Mr Vaghela's killer said today their interest in Smith had waned.

Detective Inspector Bernie Hollewand, who is heading the inquiry, said Smith made claims in the last day which had been corroborated.

"It was unlikely he was involved in Mr Vaghela's death."

Mr Hollewand said the inquiry was still wide open and police still needed the public's help.

"We've said from the outset that we've got a lot of work to do and that we'd like to speak to a handful of people who have recently been involved in armed hold-ups. Mr Smith was one of them.

"To that end, the arrest of Mr Smith was helpful to the investigation but never signalled a breakthrough."

Smith appeared in New Plymouth District Court yesterday on charges relating to the armed robbery of a dairy in the east Auckland suburb of Bucklands Beach on June 5.

He was remanded to appear again in Manukau District Court in Auckland next Friday.

Another gunman also being hunted by police as a suspect to the killing had not yet been identified, Mr Hollewand said.

He was photographed robbing the Parkside Dairy in Pukekohe on June 10.

Mr Hollewand said police wanted the public's help with Mr Vaghela's shooting and the June 10 robbery at Pukekohe.

Callers could use the police hotline - 0800 736 325.

- NZPA