KEY POINTS:
Police are hoping that three knives believed to have been dropped by the "gutless" and "cowardly" killers of Daryl Graydon will lead them to the offenders.
The 24-year-old Panmure man died in the back of an ambulance after being stabbed several times while walking along Ridge Rd, Howick, early on Saturday.
Police yesterday took the unusual step of taking media to where two household steak knives and another non-serrated knife were found, in the hope that it would generate leads.
Detectives also revealed that the offenders were last seen running down Nelson St in Howick, before apparently scaling a retaining wall and a tall fence before dropping the knives and emerging near Howe St.
"They're extremely significant to the inquiry," Detective Senior Sergeant Pete Jones said. "One of those knives, if not more, will be the weapons that were used to kill Daryl Graydon. The question we'd like to know is who is missing those knives? They've come from an address and someone out there will know that they have gone missing."
Detective Inspector Steve Rutherford would not speculate on any forensic evidence found but said "common sense" led police to believe the knives were linked to the murder because of their proximity to the scene.
Police were determined to find the killers and Mr Rutherford had a strong words for those responsible.
"It was a gutless and cowardly attack by two perpetrators on two unarmed members of the public who were innocently walking along Ridge Rd," he said.
"It's a horrific attack and the persons responsible for the attack need to be identified as soon as possible and put before the courts and made accountable ... we're determined to find those responsible - and we will."
Members of the public found the knives and many others had been ringing a police hotline set up for information on the murder.
Mr Graydon was killed after a verbal altercation with two men. One is described as European with blond hair and freckles and wearing a brown and grey hooded top. The other was part-Maori or olive-skinned, with dark spiky hair and wearing an electric blue shirt. They are described as having South African accents.
* Anyone who is missing the knives or has information on the case is asked to call the free and confidential police helpline 0800 4 RIDGE (0800 474 343).
