Missing boy: Forensic testing continues on car

Missing 11 year old Mike Zhao-Beckenridge. Photo / Supplied

Forensic testing is continuing today on the car of missing man John Beckenridge after it was hauled from the foot of a cliff.

Mr Beckenridge and his 11-year-old stepson Michael Zhao-Beckenridge have been missing since March 13, when the boy went missing during a lunch break from James Hargest College's junior school in Invercargill.

Mr Beckenridge's blue Volkswagen Touareg car was discovered in the water near Curio Bay on March 26. Raging seas off the rugged South Catlins prevented its recovery until yesterday afternoon.

Forensic scientists were examining the wreckage of the car, Southern police spokesman Nic Barclay said.

He would not confirm whether bodies were in the vehicle as it was pulled from the water.

"Police will not be releasing any more information until the forensic testing has been completed and families have been spoken to," Mr Barclay said.

Mr Barclay was unsure how long the forensic testing would take.

"We're taking it day by day," he said.

Mr Beckenridge, an Australian citizen of Swedish descent, is also known as John Robert Lundh, Knut Goran Roland Lundh and John Bradford, and was in breach of a parenting order, when he allegedly abducted Michael.