Carmen: Forensic hunt at friend's home

Police searched the garage and other areas of the home occupied by a friend of Brad Callaghan, who has been charged with murdering Carmen Thomas. Photo / Natalie Slade

Police were last night searching the house of an associate of the man charged with the murder of Auckland mother Carmen Thomas.

The man is a friend of Ms Thomas' former boyfriend Brad Callaghan, who was arrested and charged with her murder on Tuesday.

The Herald is not able to identify the man - his name has been suppressed by a District Court judge at the request of the police.

They say they still have people to talk to, and that further arrests are possible in the investigation.

After covering the front door with a tarpaulin and seizing a boat from the driveway, they erected a tent in front of the garage where they were working.

In the dark last night, staff in white boilersuits pulled the curtains in a room above the garage.

Flashes of light could be seen behind the curtains, suggesting luminol testing for the presence of blood.

Officers later left the property carrying items in black plastic bags.

Neighbours told the Herald they were shocked by the police presence.

They said the man hadn't been home since last Friday but was a "great guy", who lived alone but often watched the rugby with them.

Anne Clark said she knew the man quite well and often walked his dog when he wasn't home.

She hoped he hadn't been directly involved in the murder and was helping police by providing information for their inquiries.

Charmaine Borland described the man as a hard worker who was active and into sports. She had never seen Ms Thomas or Callaghan at his home.

Police have refused to discuss who they are speaking to in their investigations or who else may be of interest to their inquiry.

Last night, they would not say if they knew the whereabouts of the man.

Spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty said police were executing a search warrant, but no arrests had been made since Callaghan was charged.

Last night's development followed a long day for police at the construction site in Victoria St, central Auckland, where Callaghan worked.

It is believed an item of interest has been found in a deep hole in the corner of the site.

One report said a cellphone had been found, but police would not confirm this. It is understood they are looking for tools or cutting equipment which may have been used to dismember Ms Thomas' body.

Her body - believed to have been dumped in bush on the outskirts of Auckland - has not been found.

Work on the construction site stopped yesterday as police lowered a camera down a large pipe sticking out of the top of the hole.

A police officer, wearing protective head gear and a harness, was also lowered down the pipe.

Workers have told the Herald the hole is at least 10m deep, and they did not know what had captured the police attention.

It is understood part of the hole collapsed yesterday, allowing police a better view of what was inside.

Nothing was removed from the hole, which was covered before the site was closed for the day.

Police are expected to return to it today to continue their investigation.

On Wednesday, workers at the site found a plastic bag full of clothing, which was taken by police.

It was discovered on a different part of the site to where yesterday's attention was focused.