Police have issued a fresh appeal after reopening a homicide investigation into the suspected murder of David John Robinson, who was found dead on a remote West Coast beach more than 26 years ago.
New inquiries are based around several firearms police have received — one of which could be the weapon used to kill Robinson.
The investigation was first launched on December 28, 1998, after the 25-year-old’s body was found on a remote beach near Ross.
While it was “scaled back”, the investigation had been “periodically reviewed” and, in mid-February this year, police said they would be making further inquiries.
Around two weeks before Robinson’s body was located, a single gunshot was heard by several people in the settlement of Kakapotahi.
Police have known Robinson was shot in the head with a .22 calibre firearm since the beginning of the initial investigation.
Detective Geoff Baber said police had never located the firearm used to murder Robinson and, as part of the reopened investigation, several .22 firearms from people who owned them in the area had been received.
“We are now able to conduct forensic examinations on these firearms so we can rule out any not used in David’s murder.”
Police have appealed to anyone else who owned a .22 firearm and was in the area in 1998 or anyone who knew of someone in the wider area who had such a firearm.
Baber said it was “not too late to provide David’s family with answers”, encouraging people with relevant information to come forward.
“For the purpose of our investigation, we ask for people to get in touch, let us know who may have these firearms now, and whether Police could take them temporarily for the purpose of conducting a forensic examination.
“We continue to appeal for anyone who may have owned, used, or had seen a green 4×4 vehicle around 1998 in the Kakapotahi area to please contact us.”
