KEY POINTS:
The Mongrel Mob remains silent over the death of a two-year-old girl in a drive-by shooting, as a 50-strong police team pieces together the events that lead to her murder.
Jhia Harmony Te Tua died after she was shot in the chest on May 5, during a drive-by shooting at a house in the Wanganui suburb of Gonville.
Her father was a patched member of Black Power, and four men, including a patched Mongrel Mob member anda gang prospect are in custody, charged with offences relating to incidents in the lead-up to Jhia's death.
Extra security has been planned for the men's appearance at Wanganui District Court tomorrow.
Detective Dennis O'Rourke said the police were following a number of positive leads, but Mongrel Mob members were still refusing to cooperate.
"We are speaking to Mongrel Mob members, (but) they have yet to hand anyone in, and nobody from the Mongrel Mob has come forward with any really useful information at this point in time.
"We just believe it's time they fronted up and came forward."
He reiterated earlier police comments that senior members of the gang appeared to have no control over the junior members or gang prospects.
Mr O'Rourke noted there had been a significant drop in reported crime since Jhia was killed.
"What tends to happen is ... you bring a large number of police into town and they're all out on the street doing their enquiries, so all the baddies keep their heads down."
Mr O'Rourke said he had noticed this phenomenon in a number of major investigations over the years.
"Historically crime drops, and for some time afterwards."
Area Commander Inspector Duncan McLeod said 50 officers were currently working on the Gonville shooting.
Police had been to more than 300 houses in the area, and taken statements from over 200 witnesses, Mr McLeod said.
A toll-free phone line, 0508 FOR JHIA, was launched today for people with information about the shooting.
Police were particularly interested in hearing from anyone who saw an incident at about 7pm on the night Jhia was shot, when bottles were thrown at her parents' house from a car containing Mongrel Mob members.
- NZPA
