Man questioned on 34-year-old unsolved Tracey Patient murder

Police have interviewed a man in connection with the unsolved murder of 13-year-old Tracey Ann Patient 34 years ago.

Tracey was found with pantyhose tightened around her throat in the bush of the Waitakere Ranges on January 29, 1976.

Detective Senior Sergeant Stan Brown, head of the Henderson CIB, said police had questioned the man, but he would not comment on whether the man was being treated as a suspect.

He urged anyone with information about Tracey's death to come forward.

"It is never too late. Some people have a conscience every now and then. It can just take a while to kick in. No matter how long any case is, it's still open, until we know what happened."

More recently, police have investigated claims by a woman that her neighbour's 21-year-old son killed Tracey after he was released from prison in Australia.

The informant, "Rose" - who was 11 at the time - said the family car was locked in a garage, cleaned, repainted then sold. Rose also claimed to have seen a signet ring belonging to Tracey in the neighbour's house and hearing a confession from the mother.

Inquiries by Detective Sergeant Murray Free, the officer instrumental in solving the Marie Jamieson murder, with Australian prison and immigration authorities found the 21-year-old was not in New Zealand at the time of the murder.

However, Tracey's sister Debbie said other information provided by Rose needed further investigation.

She said the neighbour's father had been nominated as a possible suspect by Rose's parents at the time of Tracey's death.

Although Debbie understood why the police did not believe Rose's evidence to be credible, she said some questions raised by the claims had been left unanswered.

"I know they're busy and I don't think they have the time to look into it. It's 34 years ago. I just hope that the anniversary will jog people's memories, just to get it out there.

"But from my point of view, the police have never answered some of my questions about this guy. As far as I know, they've never interviewed him either."

The New Zealand Herald has not published these specific questions as to not jeopardise the open inquiry.

Tracey Ann Patient was last seen at 9.30pm on January 29, 1976 on Great North Rd outside the old Henderson police station. She said goodbye to her girlfriend before crossing the road to ask an elderly couple the time.

Appearing upset that she was late, Tracey ran towards her home 1.6km away. She never made it. A man walking his dog found her body in the Waitakere Ranges, strangled with a pantyhose tourniquet tightened with a stick.

Two years after the murder, police found Tracey's signet ring in a wastepaper basket at an Avondale shopping mall after an anonymous phone tip. They were unable to trace the caller.

The move by police to interview the man in connection with the case comes after he was named by two psychics from the television show Sensing Murder several years ago.

* Anyone with any information about Tracey's death can anonymously call the Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555-111 or Henderson police 09 839 0600.