Demand for inquiry into police handling of Cissy Chen case

Cissy Chen. Photo / Supplied

A private investigator is calling for an independent inquiry into the police's handling of the Cissy Chen murder case.

Bruce Currie, who helped Jack Liu's defence team prepare for the trial over an 11-month period, has made serious allegations about the way police went about gathering evidence, including allegations that they cut corners and avoided potential witnesses who might point to someone other than Mr Liu as the killer.

He also believes one nearby resident with "a bizarre interest" in Asian women was never interviewed.

The claims come just a day after Mr Liu, a 58-year-old factory worker, was acquitted of murder following a seven-week trial in the High Court at Auckland.

"From the outset, I could see that there were many lines of inquiry that simply were not pursued, and that worries me," Mr Currie said.

In opening its case, the Crown said Ms Chen had not gone for a walk on November 5, 2012, the night she disappeared.

Prosecutor Brian Dickey said it was most likely she was killed in her Torbay home.

But Mr Currie, who spent 25 years in the force, said one Waiau St resident had told police he had seen Ms Chen walking along the street and another potential witness came forward seemingly corroborating that statement.

"This sighting was completely ignored and the informant to this day has never been formally interviewed by the police," Mr Currie said.

Ms Chen's body was found in the Trias Reserve in Totara Vale 16 months after she disappeared.

Yesterday morning, police released a statement confirming they would not reinvestigate the case and were not looking for anyone else in connection with Ms Chen's death.

Responding to the allegations, Detective Inspector Bruce Scott said there was nothing further to add to the morning's media release.