DNA fails to provide new leads in murder case

DNA testing of 12 suspects in a historic Nelson murder investigation has failed to provide police with any new leads.

Police last month re-opened the 12-year-old investigation into the violent killing of Kevin O'Loughlin at Nelson's Montgomery Square carpark.

The move was sparked by advances in forensic testing, but police today confirmed that DNA samples taken from 12 suspects had failed to provide any new evidence.

Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Wood, the officer in charge of the case, said that thought the samples could not be matched to a sample taken from the scene, they could not be totally eliminated from the inquiry.

A "very small" number of suspects could not be found or had refused to give DNA samples, he said. Police were looking at applying to the courts to force them to give samples.

Police also have two more groups of people to approach for testing, although Mr Wood refused to say how many people this involved.

"There are a lot of people that we may have to take blood from."

Mr Wood said he was not surprised that no match had been found from the first group of people tested, saying this was typical of murder inquiries.

He remained "absolutely" confident of finding a killer.

Mr O'Loughlin, 30, was found lying face down at the Hardy St entrance to the square in Nelson in the early hours of May 2, 1993.

Anyone with information on the case can phone 0800 HELP KEVIN (0800 435 753) or go online using the link below.

- nzpa