Homicide police confident armed fugitive will be caught

Nathan Fenton and Mairina Dunn

Police hunting Black Power gang member Nathan Fenton in connection with the brutal slaying of his teenage girlfriend in Whangarei, say they are confident they will find him.

Fenton, 31, has been on the run since last Sunday when the body of Mairina Dunn, 17, was found in a house in the Whangarei suburb of Otangarei.

She had been bludgeoned to death with a blunt instrument in a prolonged attack which lasted an hour-and-a-half.

Police have described Fenton as "a focal point of police interest".

"The bottom line is he just needs to settle down and someone just needs to make a phone call and it is all over," said Detective Senior Sergeant Marty Ruth, head of the 45-strong homicide team.

He said today police had been getting a good response and were making very good progress.

"There is new material coming in every half hour," he said.

"People are reporting good sightings and are doing the right thing, which is not getting closer for a look or going up and asking.

"They are getting to a phone and saying 'I might have seen him here'. We had some good developments yesterday and last night.

"He still remains at large but things are coming along nicely."

Mr Ruth said Fenton was still armed and dangerous and should not be approached.

He said the elders and members of his whanau were telling him to "give himself up and not to be so stupid" but police did not have direct contact with him.

Ms Dunn's uncle Jacob Dunn, said Fenton could not hide forever and should surrender.

Whangarei was too small a town to hide in, he said.

- NZPA