Ex-All White upset by murder story

A relieved Sue Davie with husband Sandy at home in Tauranga yesterday. Photo / Alan Gibson

When news broke that former All White Alex "Sandy" Davie had been murdered in Australia, no one was more shocked than Mr Davie.

He was playing golf in Tauranga when the club secretary raced on to the course to tell him he had just been reported killed in a factory on the Gold Coast.

It turned out the local Channel 10 office had identified the wrong Alexander Davie.

Its news staff contacted Television NZ to ask for footage of the former national goalkeeper, and our state broadcaster ran its own story during the midday bulletin reporting that Mr Davie had been murdered.

The story was quickly reported on news websites including nzherald.co.nz.

Meanwhile, a friend frantically phoned Mr Davie's wife, Sue, to check on him. Mrs Davie then phoned the golf club in a panic.

"Talk about drama," Mr Davie told the Herald. "The club secretary comes out and says, 'You've got to phone home. There's been a report that you've been murdered.'

"I was a little bit upset because there was no real confirmation to family or friends or anything like that. I've had about 20 phone calls and text messages since checking to see whether it is me or whether I'm still alive."

The 63-year-old said it was a coincidence that he and his wife had lived in Burleigh, where the bodies were found, about 30 years ago.

The man who was killed worked as a security guard. He was three years younger than Mr Davie. A woman who was also found dead at the scene was 50, while Mrs Davie is 63.

"Somehow, lines have got crossed and someone's assumed it was me for whatever reason," Mr Davie said.

"The only thing I can think of is the guy must have resembled me. This is what I'd like to find out - who originally said it was me? Who identified that person as me in Australia?"

All Whites spokesman Jamie Scott said a TVNZ reporter called New Zealand Football yesterday morning telling staff there of the murder story.

"Everyone around here was devastated. I rang a couple of his old teammates out of courtesy because we knew it would hit the news and wanted to let them know before they saw it on telly. One in particular was devastated."

Old soccer mates John Adshead and Allan Jones were having dinner together in Tauranga the night before they heard the news.

"It's so weird, because we were just saying that Sandy lives in Tauranga too and we should get together for dinner," said Mr Adshead, like Mr Jones a former NZ coach.

TVNZ spokeswoman Megan Richards said the network was urgently investigating how "this disturbing mistake came to be made".

"In the meantime, the company offers its sincere and unreserved apology to Mr Davie and his family for the shock and distress they have suffered."

Ms Richards said TVNZ chief executive Rick Ellis would be contacting the family personally to apologise and a public apology would also be made on today's bulletins.

Mr Davie represented New Zealand 32 times and played with North Shore United and Mt Wellington AFC.

Before that, he had been a goalkeeper in the United Kingdom.

He and his wife retired to Tauranga about four years ago from Auckland, where he was the All Whites' goalkeeping coach and the national women's football coach.

Meanwhile, Australian police are investigating the death of the security guard Alexander Davie and the 50-year-old woman, who has not been named. She was found at a residential home in nearby Robina, and the deaths are reportedly connected.

* Sandy Davie

Scottish-born goalkeeper who represented his country at under-23 level.

Spent most of his career with Dundee United and played in the final of the Scottish FA Cup, but his team lost.

Also played for Southampton and Luton Town before emigrating to New Zealand.

Played for the All Whites 32 times.