Crushed car becomes key clue in murder case

Donald Stewart's brother Gordon (right) spoke on behalf of the family, he was accompanied by Donald's daughter Tracey and her husband. Photo / Christine Cornege

As the shattered family of murdered Lower Hutt man Donald Stewart come to grips with his death, police are piecing together clues from his crushed car, which has become central to their inquiry.

Mr Stewart, a retired 74-year-old former builder, was found dead with head injuries near public toilets in Hamilton early on Sunday morning.

His Peugeot car, which was taken to Hamilton on Wednesday for a forensic examination, was found crushed at an Auckland wrecker's yard under a pile of other vehicles.

Police believe it may hold important clues for their investigation.

Mr Stewart's brother, Gordon Stewart, who spoke to a media conference in Hamilton yesterday with Donald Stewart's daughter Tracey and son-in-law Cameron, said they were "absolutely shattered" upon learning of his death.

He said his brother was conservative and quiet, but kind and fun-loving with a dry sense of humour.

He had loved skiing as a youngster and loved cars, once owning the fastest electronically-timed Triumph TR4 sportscar in New Zealand.

"We feel it is such a terrible way for our brother to have died," said Gordon Stewart.

"We can't understand what motive anyone would have to do that."

Mr Stewart was also a quantity surveyor, cabinet maker and draughtsman.

Gordon Stewart said the last contact family members had with him was about 11 days ago when he sent someone a note wishing them a happy birthday.

Mr Stewart said he did not know his brother had been in Hamilton over the past weekend, but this was not unusual, as he had friends throughout the country whom he would often visit, going for weeks at a time

Detective Inspector Lance Burdett of Hamilton CIB said police were focusing on the movements of Mr Stewart's Peugeot and how it got to Collins Rd on the outskirts of Hamilton where it was seen stuck in a ditch on Sunday morning.

Police went to recover the vehicle on Monday but it had been moved to a local scrap yard before being taken to Auckland.

"We're interested in sightings of the white Peugeot from 9pm Saturday until even as late as Tuesday in and around the Waikato area," said Mr Burdett.

He said there had been reports of possible sightings of Mr Stewart around the city and police were looking at CCTV footage.

Mr Burdett said police forensic, fire service and ESR investigators were in the middle of a unique investigation where they were examining the crushed car.

"It is still ongoing and it is extremely difficult ... we are trying to reconstruct it and it was significantly damaged," he said.