Carmen: Emergency staff lowered into hole

Workmen pump out water from a hole at the construction site earlier today. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Search and rescue staff were this morning lowered down a hole at the central Auckland building site where the man charged with the murder of Auckland escort Carmen Thomas worked.

About 18 staff from police and the Fire Service urban search and rescue team were at the Mansons TCLM site in Victoria St, where several police inquiries have been made in the past two weeks.

One searcher was observed being lowered down a hole from a crane at the site this morning.

Police have previously lowered a camera down the hole twice, and on Wednesday were seen removing items of clothing from the site.

The man charged with Ms Thomas' murder, Brad Callaghan, had worked at the site.

Callaghan, Ms Thomas' ex-partner and father of her child, was remanded in custody when he appeared in court on Tuesday.

In the past two days police have also been searching a house in east Auckland of an associate of Mr Callaghan.

Neighbours reported that the associate had not been seen since last Friday. Tents have been erected around the house.

Police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty said today police remained at the east Auckland house and would be there as long as it took to complete the search.

She said more than 57 search warrants had been executed before yesterday. Hundreds of items had been collected and forensic scientists had been busy examining them.

Police have still yet to find the body of Ms Thomas, who has not been seen since June 27. They say they believe she was murdered in her Remuera home, her body dismembered, then disposed of.

They are still appealing for sightings of her car but now say they do not believe she had anything to do with taking it to Hamilton, where it was found.

Ms Hegarty said the public still had an important role to play in the investigation.

"We have always said that if anybody has any information that might be of assistance, please contact us," she said. "That could be anything."

She said further people could still be charged in relation to Ms Thomas' death.

- NZPA