Missing car vital clue to kidnap

By PATRICK GOWER and MONIQUE DEVEREUX

The getaway car used by the gunman who snatched baby Kahu Durie is the key to the case - but police have no firm description or confirmed sightings.

Detectives say it is essential they find the two-tone blue-silver Mitsubishi Galant or Sigma because it is one of the few leads they have.

As the hunt for the baby and the gunman today enters its sixth day, police have received no ransom demand, have no idea if Kahu is still alive and admit they are struggling.

Developments include:

* Police bringing in one of the country's highest-ranking detectives to head the operation.

* His revelation that police have about a dozen strong suspects.

* The inquiry team seeking help from Britain and overseas.

* Release of a more detailed description of the kidnapper.

* Writing off as a hoax a phone call from a woman who claimed the baby had been killed and dumped.

Kahu Durie, aged 8 months, is the daughter of Maori lawyer Donna Hall and High Court judge Eddie Durie. She was snatched from her mother on Saturday morning while the family - including two of Donna Hall's teenage nieces - were out on a regular walk in Lower Hutt.

Detective Superintendent Larry Reid was yesterday appointed to oversee the kidnapping hunt and inquiry into the murder of Lower Hutt woman Kate Alkema, who was killed nearby the same morning.

A connection between the two crimes has not been ruled out, and up to 260 police are working on both.

Mr Reid last night told the Herald the Mitsubishi was the key to solving the kidnapping.

"It is very important for us to get that car. It is one of the only tangible things we have got.

"The cars from that particular era are all very similar except for minor changes in relation to lights and grilles. I would think there are literally hundreds out there - they are a very popular car. We are working towards trying to identify them all."

Mr Reid said there were about a dozen strong suspects or persons of interest. They were being spoken to as they became available.

The police Eagle helicopter late yesterday spent almost an hour searching the Wellington suburb of Wainuiomata.

The search was based on an unconfirmed sighting around midday on Saturday of a car like the kidnapper's heading up Wainuiomata Hill.

The kidnapper's Mitsubishi had a rear registration plate of UL3802 or similar. The plate was stolen from an Auckland man's car in 1998, but he has been asked by police not to talk about it. Only one plate was stolen, and Mr Reid said police did not know what plate was on the front of the getaway car.

He said that because the Kahu kidnapping was a unique crime the investigation team had sought overseas advice, mainly from Britain.

He refused to say which international organisations his team was liaising with.

The team also yesterday released a more detailed description of the gunman, although it is still sketchy and police do not have enough information to develop a clear indentikit picture.

He is described as having grey or greying hair, a spot under his left eye, bad teeth (possibly with some missing), and a wrinkly neck with loose flesh under the jaw. He is thought to be aged 30 to 40 and about 172cm tall. He wore tight black trousers (possibly jeans) with dark leather boots and a jacket.

The Herald yesterday revealed that he was also wearing a balaclava, which hindered Donna Hall and her nieces in their efforts to recall his features.

Mr Reid said the balaclava was an important indication of what lengths the kidnapper went to.

"Obviously there was some planning when you arrive in a street with a firearm, balaclava, false number plates and a quick getaway route."

A call from a woman claiming Kahu had been killed and dumped is being treated as a hoax. It led to a two-day search of the suburb of Berhampore which halted yesterday.

The woman called the police 0800 line on Monday night, saying the baby had been dumped somewhere which sounded like "Albert". Police searched Albert St and Mt Albert Rd in Berhampore.

Some clothes and a toy were taken from the Mt Albert Rd scene, but Mr Reid said yesterday he was 100 per cent certain they were not relevant.

Police have been unable to trace the call because the hotline did not have the right equipment.

Mr Reid refused to comment further on the hotline, except to say that efforts were now being made to staff it constantly between 8am and 11pm.

He said a reward was still a possibility.

Flier distributed by police

Description of suspect

Picture: Kahurautete Durie

Picture: Kahurautete's clothing

Picture: the car being sought by police

Map

Do you have information for the Police?
Ring 0800 150 499