By CHRIS DANIELS and SCOTT INGLIS
Police investigating the brutal murder of two young Masterton half-sisters want to speak to a mystery man seen running near their house early yesterday.
Saliel Aplin, aged 12, and Olympia Aplin, 11, were found in a sleepout at their home with wounds that appeared to have been caused by a sharp object.
Their mother, Charlene Aplin, had called police for help after her de facto husband, Bruce Thomas Howse, woke her to say that four men had attacked him inside and outside their house.
Charlene Aplin was said to have slept through the alleged attack.
Detectives were last night interviewing her and Mr Howse, who has bruising and cuts.
Detective Inspector Stuart Wildon said it was believed the girls had been attacked after midnight. Autopsies were expected to be conducted today.
There was nothing to suggest the girls had been attacked sexually.
Mr Wildon said last night that two Masterton forestry workers on their way to work saw a man running towards them on Kitchener St, at the northern end of Kippenberger St where the girls lived, about 4.55 am.
"The forestry workers didn't think anything of it at the time, but contacted us later today after hearing radio reports of the homicide investigation," he said.
Police urgently wanted to speak to the man to see if he could help with information about the murders.
Mr Wildon said "a lot of questions" about the attack were unanswered.
Charlene Aplin was said to have had five children, including a toddler and baby fathered by Mr Howse. Saliel and Olympia had different biological fathers. Olympia was also known as Olympia Jetson.
Mr Howse has two teenage sons, one of whom lives at another house in Masterton and one who was away at the time of the killings.
Charlene Aplin's father, Alan Aplin, told the Herald Saliel and Olympia had been close.
"They were brought up as one family ... I brought them up for five years."
Saliel went to Hiona Intermediate School. Principal Peter Debney said she had been a top runner and due to compete in an inter-school athletics competition today.
Her classmates spent yesterday putting together tributes such as posters and flower arrangements for display in the school assembly hall.
The school flag was at half-mast.
About 500m away at Olympia's school, Lansdowne Primary, teachers broke the news to pupils in the morning, each saying the same words: "We need to tell you that Olympia from room one has died. It is not an accident - someone has killed Olympia and her sister.
"We don't know who did it and we can't tell you anything more at the moment ... "
Neighbours said they often heard fights at the house and police had been there before.
Man seen running near site where girls died
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