New sighting of murdered woman boosts inquiry

Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Oxnam is appealing to the public for any sightings of Tania McKenzie. Picture / Wanganui Chronicle

Sightings of murdered Wanganui woman Tania McKenzie near where her body was found in the Whanganui River last Friday have prompted a fresh police appeal for people who were in the area to come forward.

The naked body of Tania McKenzie, 20, was found in the river near Somme Parade, in Wanganui, on January 7. She died of massive head injuries.

Operation Somme head Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Oxnam today said new possible sightings of Ms McKenzie had come to light.

He said a person had reported to police seeing a woman who matched Ms McKenzie's description stumbling on Somme Parade near the intersection with Pitt Street some time after 2.30am last Friday morning.

Mr Oxnam said it was possible the woman was Ms McKenzie, but police could also not rule out the possibility it was some other young woman.

He said police wanted women in the area between 2.30am and 5.30am to contact them so they could rule them out as the person in the sighting.

Police also wanted any others in the area between those times to contact them, because if the sighting was of Ms McKenzie then they too might also have seen her.

He said the police inquiry was progressing well and he was confident the large amount of information flowing through to police would eventually lead to an arrest.

He would not comment on whether police had nominated a suspect.

He said the police specialist search team had located several items of Ms McKenzie's during a detailed search of the river banks yesterday and had decided to expand the search another 50m in either direction today.

Mr Oxnam would not comment on the items found yesterday.

He said there had been no additional confirmation of a report yesterday from a resident who lives near the intersection of Pitt Street and Somme Parade who was woken twice after 1am by sounds he described as loud male and female voices outside his address.

Police will tonight canvass central Wanganui, tracing Ms McKenzie's movements, searching for people who might have seen her.

Staff would be out from about 11pm to about 10am tomorrow.

Police have said the brutal attack on Ms McKenzie would have led to some blood getting on their clothing. They have appealed for anyone who knew someone who had suspiciously got rid of any clothes to contact them.

Mr Oxnam has also said the person would be under extreme stress.

"They will be exhibiting symptoms of stress, which may manifest in an unusual interest in this inquiry.

"Although it is a terrible crime, this person or persons may say something to someone indicating their involvement."

- NZPA