Killer may have showered in elderly victim's flat

A Marton woman believes she heard someone showering in Mona Morriss' flat after Mrs Morriss was murdered.

As fresh details emerge about the last moments of the 83-year-old's life, a neighbour, Audrey Thomson, speculated that the killer could have been washing away evidence late on Tuesday, January 4, after the brutal stabbing of the mother of nine.

Police believe Mrs Morriss was killed on January 3 or 4. Miss Thomson says she heard Mrs Morriss' shower gushing about 9pm -- unusual for her earlybird neighbour.

"It easily could have been the killer, because Mona showered every morning between 6 and 7am. She was a morning person and I know what I heard was the shower because the drain makes a gurgling sound when the shower's on and the washing doesn't," Miss Thomson, 77, said.

Inquiry head Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Arnerich would not comment on Miss Thomson's claims.

Her flat is opposite Mrs Morriss' and the pair had been neighbours for about 18 years.

Other residents of the modest complex in Wellington Road say police are hunting for a purse and that the killer locked the door on the way out. Police are saying nothing.

Other than the shower, Miss Thomson said she heard nothing untoward on January 3 and 4 when Mrs Morriss was sexually assaulted and stabbed to death, but drawn blinds told a different story the following morning.

"I knew there was something wrong then. I only wish I'd gone over then, but I knew that the grandchildren would probably be around for a visit, so I didn't bother."

A four-man Wellington-based dive squad yesterday searched the Tutaenui Stream for the murder weapon. The shallow stream meanders behind the block of council-owned flats where Mrs Morriss was killed. The team found a motorbike licence plate, an old metal ladder and other detritus, but nothing useful to the inquiry by late yesterday.

After a helicopter search over the area last week, Mr Arnerich said the specialist search group, also from Wellington, will spend a day and a half in the area.

He would not specify if the team were looking for a weapon.

"The helicopter gives us a different perspective and we are using that resource."

Although there has been speculation that Mrs Morriss was raped, Mr Arnerich stopped short of calling the attack a rape.

"The evidence points to sexual activity by the killer as part of a brutal attack," he said.

Last week, police released supermarket video footage of Mrs Morriss buying bread and milk on January 3 at Marton's New World supermarket on Wellington Road, just a few metres from her flat. She may have been killed a short time later and police hope the images will jog memories.

Mr Arnerich said a police bus parked on Marton's main street has been a successful part of the investigation and people could also call 0800 493-554 with any information.

Meanwhile, Rangitikei Mayor Bob Buchanan says Mrs Morriss' killer should get the same treatment she got and is calling for the death penalty to be reinstated.

"The world says a life for a life doesn't solve things.

"But if you know you will lose your life by committing a crime, I suspect you wouldn't want to do it."

- NZPA