By ALISON HORWOOD
A police dive team will continue to search the Manawatu River today for items in connection with the Lundy double murders.
The bodies of Christine Lundy, aged 38, and her only child, Amber, aged 7, were found in their Palmerston North home three weeks ago.
Detective Sergeant Mark Painter will not specify what the divers are looking for but it appears to be the axe-like murder weapon missing since the killings on August 29.
Police say Mrs Lundy and her daughter suffered severe head injuries in the attack. They describe the weapon as heavy, with a blade on at least one side and possibly a long handle.
Grid searches of the river began on Monday after police received new information. The section searched yesterday is near the Opiki Bridge, about 15km from Palmerston North and on the short-cut route to Wellington.
Detective Sergeant Painter said the dive conditions were challenging because of the swift current and high silt levels. Nothing of interest had been found by nightfall and searching was to continue most of the week.
The police are appealing to the public to help them identify people and vehicles seen near the Lundy home in Kelvin Grove about the time of the killings.
Sightings include an old yellow car, possibly a Vauxhall, in the area about 7.15 pm on Tuesday, August 29, and a brownish Mitsubishi L200 ute seen at 3.50 the next morning.
Late last week, police returned the house to Mark Lundy following a blessing by local kaumatua. Detective Sergeant Painter said Mr Lundy, aged 43, had indicated that nothing appeared to be missing, leading police to believe robbery was not a motive.
Detective Sergeant Painter also says there is no evidence the attacker knew Mr Lundy was out of town on business or had stalked the pair.
The night of the murders, Mr Lundy, a national sales distributor, was in Wellington on business. Vehicles belonging to the Lundys have been returned after forensic tests.
* Police have set up an 0800 phone line to take information from the public. The number is 0800 679 468.
www.police.govt.nz/operation/winter.
River search in Lundy double murder
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