Foreign police help hunt for taxi driver's killer

Police say they are getting good cooperation from their colleagues overseas in their hunt for the killer of Auckland taxi driver Hiren Mohini.

The prime suspect in the brutal killing is thought to have fled to China a few days after he got into Mr Mohini's cab in central Auckland, took an eight-minute ride to Mt Eden and stabbed him to death.

Police said today they knew the identity of the man but would not confirm he was in China, although they knew he had fled the country.

Detective Senior Sergeant Hywel Jones said police were confident of tracking him down overseas, but would not talk about how he would be brought back to New Zealand when he was found.

He said police were working with "a number of government agencies and agencies overseas as well to locate and detain him."

Mr Jones said he had always been confident they would find him.

When asked if he was confident the man would be brought back to New Zealand to stand trial he said: "That is something we will find out in due course.

"That is our ultimate aim.

"The chances of locating him and dealing with this matter are extremely high."

He said for operational reasons he would not say if the man had been located and spoken to by other agencies acting for the New Zealand police.

Mr Mohini, 39, a father of two, died on January 31 from multiple stab wounds.

He crashed his car during the attack and his fare of $15.20 was unpaid. The killer fled from Mt Eden on foot but left a distinctive blue bag nearby.

He was identified after security camera footage showed him in central Auckland before he got into Mr Mohini's cab.

He was carrying the blue bag that was later found with blood on it near the death scene.

- NZPA