Murder police target local man

Police yesterday released this photo of Birgit Brauer in Queenstown.

Police hunting the murderer who bashed and stabbed a German hitchhiker to death say they are probably looking for a Taranaki local.

Birgit Brauer's body was found by a jogger near Lucys Gully in Egmont National Park a week ago today.

Police have confirmed that their prime suspect was driving a mid- to late-1980s model four-wheel-drive two-door dark grey or black Toyota Hilux. They are now concentrating on tracking down the hundreds of such vehicles registered to owners between Wanganui and New Plymouth.

A man was seen picking up 28-year-old Ms Brauer at Waitotara last Tuesday.

Despite widespread publicity, that driver has not come forward.

Police have also revealed the contents of the murder victim's last text message. At 9.17 on Tuesday morning she wrote in German to a friend in Queenstown. Translated, the message said: "Hi today I am on the road again. The farm stay was nice. Like to go to New Plymouth today."

Ms Brauer's body was dumped in secluded Lucys Gully off State Highway 45, adding weight to the theory that the person who left her there had local knowledge.

"The vehicle is the key to this inquiry," said Detective Senior Sergeant Grant Coward of New Plymouth.

"No one that has picked her up in a similarly described vehicle has come forward, so obviously that is the thrust of our inquiry."

He asked people to contact the inquiry team if they knew anyone who owned a vehicle like that.

"Similarly if anyone knows of such a vehicle that may have been abandoned, disposed of or modified in any way, which could include the sale of or destruction [of the 4WD]," Mr Coward said.

Police have received unconfirmed sightings of the Hilux on the coastal State Highway 45 at Waverley, Hawera and Opunake, all of which fit the timeframe.

Mr Coward issued a plea to anyone who had seen the Hilux to call the police.

All calls would remain confidential.

The team of 50 police based in Wanganui and New Plymouth for Operation Lucy sorely needed a break-through to help uncover the murderer, Mr Coward said.

"Someone must know someone that owns such a vehicle and maybe they've been acting a little differently lately, or someone else might have been trying to sell a similar vehicle."

Ms Brauer's backpacks, which contained her wallet and cellphone, are still missing. One is a Macpac daypack Tekapo 25-litre model in a slate or black colour.

She also had a larger pack - a Berghaus Antaeus 65-litre model coloured blue and black.

Berghaus packs are made only in England and are usually used by German or British tourists.

Meanwhile, the German consulate in Wellington is to arrange to have Ms Brauer's body sent back to Germany for burial.

A New Zealand police liaison officer will conduct inquiries in Germany on behalf of the family and her German flatmate.

An autopsy found Ms Brauer died from multiple injuries, including significant head injuries and a stab wound to the chest.

She had been in NZ since February on a working holiday.

Ms Brauer's death is a blow to her home community of Dresden, where the news of her killing was reported in the local newspaper Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten.

Police reporter Thomas Harewig said the murder had come as a shock and tainted New Zealand's image in Germany.

Friends of Ms Brauer will gather today on the shores of Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown to farewell her.

Those she lived with at Deco Backpackers in Queenstown are trying to come to terms with her death.

A manager said Ms Brauer's friends there were angry.

"But obviously there's not one person they can direct their anger at. It just shouldn't have happened.

"They're devastated and feeling for her family."

* Anyone with information can call 0800 CRIME STOP (0800 274-637) or the New Plymouth police on (06) 759-5500.