Wanganui murder victim's savage death

Police have taken the rare step of describing a murder victim's sexual violation as "most degrading" and said there was evidence Tania McKenzie died a painful death.

The head of the inquiry into the killing of the Wanganui barmaid, Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Oxnam, yesterday renewed calls for sightings of a young woman being chased through Wanganui's Glasgow St in the early hours of January 7.

Miss McKenzie's body was pulled from the Whanganui River later that day, her 20th birthday, and an autopsy revealed she died from massive head injuries.

Mr Oxnam said last night that he had good reasons for making the new details about Miss McKenzie's killing public, but his aims in doing so would not be revealed.

"I am now able to reveal that Tania McKenzie's injuries can be described as savage and brutal and ... she suffered a painful death. She was sexually violated in a most degrading manner."

Mr Oxnam also said yesterday that a pair of Pulp 'fat cat' boots and a Nokia cellphone were missing. An extensive search of the river and nearby areas had not found Miss McKenzie's belongings.