Net tightens on fugitive gang man

Nathan Fenton and Verna Everitt

Police are closing in on a gang member wanted in connection with the violent death of Whangarei teenager Mairina Dunn.

Up to 40 armed police spent yesterday blocking roads, checking ferries and searching cars after 31-year-old Nathan Fenton and a woman fled Russell in a stolen car.

He was seen about 8.30am in the town's shopping area with 28-year-old Eileen Verna Everitt, a former partner.

They are believed to have been hiding out together in the past week.

Police armed with rifles and handguns rushed to the Bay of Islands after the sighting.

Many of them were just arriving as Fenton, who police say is armed and dangerous, and Everitt were seen speeding out of town in a stolen BMW.

The car narrowly missed Northland resident Laurie Kerr-Bell on Old Russell Rd.

Mr Kerr-Bell said the driver was wearing a balaclava, but it was not pulled down over his face.

"He cut the corner on me and I nearly got sideswiped. He was going fast, at a hell of a rate. He was in a big hurry."

Far North area commander Inspector Chris Scahill said the car was last seen racing out of Russell and through Frenchman Swamp.

Fenton and Everitt were last night believed to be hiding on the Rawhiti Peninsula, which covers thousands of hectares of bush, farmland and rugged swamp.

It is not known if they have bush skills but Fenton is said to know the area.

Police have been hunting the Black Power member since August 27 when the beaten body of Mairina Dunn was found in a house at Otangarei, Whangarei.

The pair had been together for a short time, and stayed in the house with three other females.

The 17-year-old was beaten for up to an hour and half with a blunt weapon. She died in the early hours of the morning, but police weren't called until that afternoon - after Fenton left the house.

After Ms Dunn's death, her family said they had warned her about Fenton as he had a history of violence against partners and had been jailed for serious assaults on women.

They also urged Fenton to "be a man" and give himself up

Russell residents were yesterday on full alert in a town surrounded by police.

Roads surrounding Russell were blocked, cars searched and spikes laid.

The car in which Fenton and Everitt escaped was a blue BMW, registration number CSK461, stolen from Auckland on Saturday. It was not known last night if they still had the vehicle.

At a search base in Ngaiotonga Mr Scahill said police were covering a large area in an attempt to locate Fenton.

"It's a hell of a big area and it's going to take a while."

Some of the cordons and roadblocks remained in place last night.

- Additional reporting by NZPA