Hermit's death remains a mystery

The death of a Great Barrier Island recluse more than five years ago remains a mystery, after a coroner yesterday said the cause was not known and delivered an open finding.

The decomposing body of Colin Michael Goode, 51, was found on June 30, 1999, in his isolated home near Claris.

His right hand was missing and police treated his death as a homicide.

Mr Goode, a former gardener with Auckland City Council parks and a known cannabis grower on the island, had last been seen in April. He had minimal contact with the outside world.

Mr Goode's body was lying on a double bed in the master bedroom. The remains of his dog were also in the room.

Police found two rifles, a .303 and a .22, in the bedroom but said Mr Goode did not die from gunshot wounds.

Despite "comprehensive" post mortem examinations, no cause of death could be established, police said yesterday.

Auckland coroner Murray Jamieson yesterday suppressed details of injuries to the hand and arm.

Police at the time revealed Mr Goode had complained in 1991 that he had been assaulted in his home by armed Mongrel Mob members demanding 13kg of cannabis they claimed he had.

They allegedly robbed him of a kilogram of cannabis and $1240.

The officer in charge of the homicide investigation, Detective Superintendent Andy Lovelock, yesterday told the coroner's court the inquiry involved a number of experts.

Mr Lovelock also met agents from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation in March 2000 to discuss the case.

In 2002 a person who alerted police to the fact Mr Goode had not been seen for some time died from a drug overdose.

The man's name was suppressed by the coroner.

"He was interviewed extensively as part of the investigation and it is a matter of conjecture as to whether he was in possession of any other information," said Mr Lovelock, who later told the Herald the man was not a suspect.

Dr Jamieson said the police had carried out a substantial investigation and "have gone as far as they possibly can" to find out if another person was involved in the death.

He said a small possibility remained that the case could be re-opened and recorded an open finding.

Mr Lovelock said police had "worked extremely hard to get to the bottom of the matter but unfortunately due to a number of difficulties we are unable to arrive at an outcome".

He said anybody with information that would help unravel the mystery of Mr Goode's death could contact police.