Teargas, dogs bring wanted couple down

Murder accused Nathan Fenton refused to give himself up when police caught him in a caravan in a remote bay northeast of Whangarei and it is believed they used teargas and dogs to apprehend him.

Fenton and his former partner, Eileen Everitt, were found early yesterday after a huge manhunt that started 12 days ago and intensified on Tuesday following a sighting of the couple at shops in Russell.

It ended after a dramatic 48 hours which included a police pursuit, car crash and a standoff at the little blue and white caravan at the secluded bay.

Inside the caravan were half-finished items of food lying on a bench.

Fenton's last meal on the run was probably a can of peaches with no added sugar, some Watties pasta sauce and a single Mackintosh lolly.

The search for Fenton, who was yesterday charged with murder, started after police found Mairina Dunn's body inside a house she had shared with the 31-year-old Black Power member during their brief relationship.

It is understood he went first to his family's place, where he borrowed $20 and vanished. He is believed to have headed to Auckland where, according to his charge sheet, he unlawfully took a $12,000 BMW late on Friday night.

By Sunday, Fenton is believed to have met up with 28-year-old Everitt, after which they stopped at Goat Island.

From there it appears he headed north to Russell, where he and Everitt were sighted at 8.30am on Tuesday.

Police received a call from a shopkeeper who said she recognised the couple as they had spent time in the area over summer.

After checking security camera footage she rang the police, sparking a full-scale search which included up to 40 staff, including dog handlers and the armed offenders squad, and several aircraft.

As Fenton sped out of Russell the community constable followed but never got close.

Police cordoned off the area, setting up roadblocks and spikes, and searched surrounding bush, swampland and farmland from helicopters and an aircraft but failed to find any sign of Fenton, Everitt or the BMW.

On Wednesday they realised why. It appears the BMW lost control on a metal corner about 4km up Russell Rd and crashed 30m down a bushclad bank.

By the time police found the car the trail was cold.

It is alleged Fenton and Everitt made their way through about 7km of thick native bush to the east coast.

They reappeared at Taupiri Bay, from where they used a 3m Parker Craft aluminium boat to make their way south along the coast for 25km, Detective Senior Sergeant Marty Ruth said.

They arrived in Whananaki, where it is alleged they used a $300 white inflatable boat and made their way to a little bay where they were seen lighting a fire.

About this time Taupiri Bay man Robin Tanner returned home to find his $1650 boat missing and two sets of footprints leading down to the water.

He contacted police. Soon afterwards another call came in from Whananaki saying an inflatable boat had been stolen.

Fenton and Everitt are thought to have lit a fire at the northern end of the beach before making their way across Otamure Bay to a secluded beach.

It is alleged they dragged the inflatable boat on to the sand, climbed a sandbank and, according to the charges against them, broke into the 1971 Oxford Caravan.

They are also charged with stealing about $4000 of camping gear, clothing, cash and other personal items.

Mr Ruth said Fenton refused to give himself up when police arrived.

A broken pane at the rear of the caravan and a strong smell inside indicate police threw teargas or something similar through a window before sending dogs inside.