Second man helped kill son, says father

The father of murdered fisherman Mark Roderique claims two men, not one, were responsible for the death of his son 12 years ago.

Tom Roderique still thinks Rex Haig, who was convicted of the crime, was guilty, but that another man helped throw the body overboard.

Haig served 10 years for the murder of Mark Roderique, who disappeared while on a fishing trip off Westland on his boat Antares in 1994.

Haig has fought long and hard to clear his name and now awaits a Court of Appeal decision as to whether his conviction will be overturned.

During the appeal hearing Haig blamed his nephew, David Hogan, for the murder. Hogan and another man, Tony Sewell, were also on the fishing trip off Westland.

But Tom Roderique hopes the conviction will stand.

He said yesterday that long after the trial Tony Sewell, who has since died, visited him.

"The other guy, Sewell, he told me ... he thought that Mark was still alive when they actually put him over the side.

"I think ... Haig was the main offender, but ... it took them both to put him over the side."

Mr Roderique says his son's body was weighted down by a heavy anchor. "You know, a big anchor and a body on it, well, you wouldn't do it on your own, so it definitely took two of them to put him over the side."

Mr Hogan and Mr Sewell were given immunity and paid a reward for testifying against Haig.

Mr Sewell was killed in a motorbike accident nearly 10 years ago but Mr Hogan is living in Nelson.

He has been implicated in two murders - that of Roderique and also another man, Anton Sherlock.

Sherlock gave a statement to police that Mr Hogan had confessed to killing Roderique. Former Act MP Stephen Franks claimed in Parliament three years ago that Mr Hogan arranged his murder.

Another man was convicted of killing Sherlock and is in jail.