Family fears gunman may never be caught

Jack Nicholas lived in an area plagued by rustlers, burglars and dope growers.

The family of murdered farmer Jack Nicholas fear his killer may never be caught.

Almost a year has passed since the 71-year-old Hawkes Bay identity was gunned down at remote Puketitiri, 60km north-west of Napier.

Mr Nicholas' wife, Agnes, discovered his body on the morning of August 27.

The killer had been standing about 50m away, near a power pole in a paddock, and fired three shots from a high-calibre firearm. One of the bullets struck Mr Nicholas in the chest as he stood at the gate in his slippers.

Mrs Nicholas heard her husband go outside about 6.30am, then the shots rang out. She thought he was shooting at rabbits or a goat in the garden.

She discovered his body more than 15 minutes later, rang their son Oliver and alerted the police.

Jack's brother Craig Nicholas questions whether police responded quickly enough to secure the area and block the killer's exit. Armed police were flown with medics into the area more than 45 minutes after police were called.

"I've been very careful never to criticise the police, but they didn't respond quick enough on the day. I really don't think they did," Mr Nicholas told the Weekend Herald.

"I understand they had to muster armed offender squad members, but despite that they were an awful long time getting there.

"We couldn't criticise the police for the amount of man hours they put into it but a quicker response may have just got the person."

Detective Inspector Godfrey Watson, heading the murder inquiry, said police followed a standard response and could not have acted any faster.

Mr Nicholas said he did not think police would make an arrest.

"It's looking like it's not going to be solved. That's how I feel. I guess if you go back right to day one it was always going to be a tough investigation."

Mr Nicholas said police had never indicated to him they had a suspect in his brother's murder.

Mr Watson said police had a list of possible suspects but he would not comment on whether there was a main suspect. Two staff continued to work full-time on following up information.

"While there are things to be worked on there is still hope, and we remain optimistic that this can be resolved."

Oliver Nicholas said it was "frustrating" that police had not caught his father's killer.

"It's bloody hard living knowing that this prick's still out there.

"There's not a day goes by you're not thinking about it. You can't help but think about it and it is bloody hard going."

Asked if he was still confident the killer would be found, Oliver pointed to the arrest of Jules Mikus more than a decade after he kidnapped, raped and murdered six-year-old Theresa Cormack in Napier.

"Most of these things they solve them eventually but how long it's going to take, I don't know. It took them 15 years to get that bloody ... Mikus."

Oliver said someone knew who killed Jack but "it's whether they've got the guts to come forward".

He did not know if an earlier police response would have made a difference.

"You could be forever turning the clock back ... but I don't know whether the outcome is any different."