Three years after the alleged murder of a Far North farmer with a bottle of poisoned port, a $50,000 reward for information about his death remains unclaimed.
Dave Davan died in December 2021 after drinking a mouthful of his favourite fortified wine from a bottle left in his letterbox at remote Herekino, south of Kaitāia.
Police found the bottle had been laced with a deadly, and restricted, weedkiller.
As Davan lay in hospital, he was able to name a suspect — but police have so far been unable to find enough evidence to charge anyone over his death.
Long-time friend Brett Evans has confirmed a $50,000 reward for information leading to a conviction still stands.
A police spokesman told RNZ the investigation remained open, and would be reviewed in the New Year.
He said police still wanted to hear from anyone with information relating to the Herekino farmer’s death, and any leads would be followed up.
In November 2021, Davan, who was 67, found two bottles of port in his letterbox on isolated Puhata Road.
Son Conrad Davan previously told RNZ his father drank the first bottle then, a week or so later, opened the second as he was cooking dinner.
He had barely finished the glass when he fell to the floor and was violently ill.
It took until the following morning before he could drag himself to the phone and call for help.
Conrad Davan said his father was convinced he had been poisoned.
He had noticed the metal seal on the second bottle was broken but thought little of it at the time.
His father seemed to come right initially but, four days later, was admitted to Kaitāia Hospital with kidney failure.
As his condition deteriorated, he was admitted first to Whangārei Hospital, then flown to the intensive care unit at Auckland Hospital.
Before he lost consciousness, he told police and family what he believed had happened.
Conrad Davan, who spent a week at his father’s bedside before he died on December 9, 2021, described him as “the best fulla I knew” and a wonderful grandfather to his boy.
Dave Davan’s brother, Grant Davan, told RNZ that whoever did it, knew him well — the port left in his letterbox was his favourite brand.
In December 2022, during the first anniversary of his death, friends and family pulled together a $50,000 reward for information leading to a conviction.
No one had yet tried to claim it.
Brett Evans said his mate was acutely aware of what had happened to him, and made sure police and his family knew.
In a story marking the second anniversary, Evans spoke of his wish to see the perpetrator locked up, and his concern that people would simply forget what had happened.
“David survived for a couple of weeks, but he was conscious for a couple of days after the poisoning and in hospital. He took steps to make sure the bottle and remnants were kept and given to the police. Dave knew that he’d been poisoned. He made a point of saying, ‘If I don’t make it, this is what’s happened’, Evans said.
“People seem almost to regard it as just a death but it’s a murder. It’s an underhanded, well-thought-out, sneaky, low-life, serious crime. The intent was to kill. It’s hard to believe that someone would do this but they’re just walking around out there living the life of Riley, thinking that they’ve got away with it.”
Anyone with information about Dave Davan’s death could file a report online or call 105, quoting reference number 211114/9270. Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
rnz.co.nz