KEY POINTS:
Police believe three knives found by members of the public are those used in the "gutless and cowardly" fatal stabbing of an Auckland man.
Daryl Graydon, 24, was stabbed while walking with his friend Campbell Sussex along Ridge Road area of Howick about 1.30am on Saturday. He died in an ambulance shortly afterwards.
About 40 police are investigating Mr Graydon's death, which followed a verbal altercation he and Mr Sussex had with a group they did not know about 1am on Saturday.
Today, police released three photos of the knives they say were used in the attack.
Two are steak knives, while the third is similar in size but does not have a serrated edge.
The knives were handed in by members of the public who found them in grass on their property, near to where the fatal attack took place.
Police said it was clear the knives had been abandoned on the property.
Detective Senior Sergeant Peter Jones told media today police believe at least one of the knives was used to kill Mr Graydon.
Mr Jones said somebody would know those knives were missing from their home and that they were used in Mr Graydon's death.
"The question we would like to know is, who is missing those knives?"
Detective Inspector Steve Richardson, officer in charge of Operation Ridge, said the discovery of the knives, which had undergone forensic testing, and where they were found was "very, very significant" to the inquiry.
Other objects had also been recovered in the area, or handed in by members of the public, that may also be linked to Mr Graydon's death, he said.
Police had spent the last several days examining the objects, including the knives, establishing what their significance to Mr Graydon's death was.
"This was a gutless, cowardly attack by two perpetrators on two unarmed members of the public who were innocently walking down Ridge Road.
"They were gutlessly and cowardly attacked.
"We know one was fortunate and the other one was most unfortunate.
"It's a horrific attack and the persons responsible for this attack need to be identified as soon as possible and put before the courts and made accountable."
Mr Richardson said a hotline established for members of the public to call had produced information which police were following up on.
Yesterday about 400 people gathered at Panmure's Stone Cottage to farewell Mr Graydon.
Many young people in the crowd wore clearly identifiable blue gang colours, with one mourner wearing an Auckland Black Power jacket.
Mr Richardson said he did not think media coverage of the funeral, which showed the large gang presence, would be counterproductive to the investigation or deter the offenders from coming forward.
"Regardless of what people draw from who turned up to the funeral the deceased and his friend were going about their lawful business, walking down the road when there was a cowardly and gutless attack."
Mr Richardson said there was no indication of retribution from any of Mr Graydon's friends or family.
Police on Monday released a picture drawn by a police artist of the olive-skinned man, who had dark spiky hair and wearing an electric blue shirt. He was wearing white shoes and was believed to be aged between 18 and 25.
His co-offender, also aged between 18 and 25, is described as European with blond hair and freckles. He was wearing a brown and grey hooded top and white shoes.
Police spent much of yesterday reading through statements, interviewing witnesses and door knocking in the area between Mellons Bay Road and the BP service station on the corner of Ridge Road and Nelson Street.
They also produced hundreds of flyers to hand out to shoppers at Botany Town Centre, local businesses and pubs. The flyer will have the identikit picture which was released yesterday, with brief circumstances surrounding the homicide.
- NZPA
