A homicide investigation was opened in December 1998 after the death of 25-year-old David John Robinson in Kakapotahi. Photo / Supplied
A homicide investigation was opened in December 1998 after the death of 25-year-old David John Robinson in Kakapotahi. Photo / Supplied
The murder of a man in a small West Coast town is being reopened after remaining unsolved for more than 26 years.
A homicide investigation was opened in December 1998 after the death of 25-year-old David John Robinson in Kakapotahi.
He was found on December 28 on a remote beach near Ross approximately 10 days after he was killed.
Tasman District Police Detective Inspector Geoff Baber said his possessions were scattered across the beach, indicating he had likely been staying in the area before he died.
“After extensive inquiries at the time of his death – including interviewing a number of people within the community and conducting searches of nearby beach, bush and river areas – the investigation was scaled back."
A homicide investigation was opened in December 1998 after the death of 25-year-old David John Robinson in Kakapotahi. Photo / Supplied
Baber said police made additional inquiries in the 26 years since his murder and he wants the family and community to know police are “not giving up”.
He said officers would be canvassing the Kakapotahi area this week and inquiries would continue in the coming days and weeks.
It has been a West Coast mystery for more than two decades.
“David would have been 51 now, and while his murder was nearly three decades ago his family continue to grieve.
“We know people may not have wanted to previously tell us what they saw or heard, but the passing of time may have changed things for them, and they may see things differently now with regards to David and what happened to him.”
A reconstruction of a fragment. Photo / Supplied
He said it was not too late to provide the Robinson family with answers.
Anyone with information is being asked to email police via the Cold Case form on the New Zealand Police website, or call 105 and reference the case number 231129/2221.
