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Police want to hear from anyone who saw a man in a check shirt near a Ngaruawahia house shortly before it went up in flames killing a man inside.
The charred body of Allan Davies, 57, was found in his Struve St home following the blaze on Friday. An autopsy in Auckland at the weekend confirmed Mr Davies had been assaulted before the fire, and suffered serious wounds as a result. Police have launched a homicide inquiry.
Yesterday, Detective Senior Sergeant Grant Nicholls said the main focus of inquiries was on the movements of a man who walked along Struve St about the time of the 6.20am blaze. He was believed to have been in the street and in the town's main shopping area between 5.30am and 8.30am on Friday.
"We're seeking assistance from anyone who may have seen this man. He is caucasian, aged in his late 20s to early 30s, wearing a distinctive chequered shirt and trousers."
Mr Davies worked for Works Infrastructure. About two weeks ago he sold the house in which he perished. He was to have moved out at the weekend, allowing the new owners to take possession and redecorate.
His body was found near the front door of the house, near the kitchen and front bedroom area where firefighters said the blaze was centred.
Police spokesman Andrew McAlley declined to give out detail on the circumstances surrounding the fire and death, stating that the fire was "suspicious".
A flatmate, aged in his 50s or 60s, was co-operating with police and had been ruled out as a suspect, Mr McAlley said. Asked whether an arrest was imminent, Mr McAlley offered no comment but ruled out the notion an arsonist and murderer was on the loose in Ngaruawahia. A scene examination took place with ESR scientists over the weekend, although two detectives arrived yesterday to scour the kitchen area.
New owners Ron and Ann Ashford, of Te Kauwhata, did not wish to comment. Mr Ashford knew Mr Davies before the sale.
They spent yesterday morning with an insurance assessor surveying the home's extensive damage.
