Remuera killing: Police appeal for sightings

Police investigating the death of 41-year-old Joanne Pert, who died after allegedly being attacked on Shore Rd, Remuera on Thursday January 7, want to hear from residents on the road who may have private CCTV systems that could have captured images of Ms Pert and/or the alleged offender between about 9am and 10.30am that day.

Detective Inspector Kevin Hooper said officers are trying to reconstruct Ms Pert's movements that morning and have set up an 0800 number – 0800 765 842 – as well as a dedicated operation email address – solitaire@police.govt.nz — to help facilitate the flow of information to the Operation Solitaire homicide investigation team.

"We particularly want to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time and who may have seen Ms Pert running along Shore Rd between the Bassett Rd/Brighton Rd roundabout and the Orakei Rd roundabout between 9am and 10.30am on Thursday, January 7," Mr Hooper says.

"Ms Pert was Caucasian of slim build and had blonde hair cut in a bob style."

The NZ Herald has reported Ms Pert (41) was the former partner of property developer and NBR Rich Lister Culum Manson (40), and that Mr Manson (who did not return the paper's calls) is the father of her two childeren.

Mr Hooper says it was important that residents in the area understand that, even though a 24-year-old man has been arrested and charged with Joanne's murder, the Police investigation continues and any information that could assist reconstructing events leading up to and following on from the alleged attack on Joanne, is vital to the operation. Staff are working through the weekend.

The Detective Inspector Hooper reiterated his appeal to residents and commuters for information, whether verbal or CCTV recordings, that could assist the investigation team.

The  24 year-old murder accused appeared in the Auckland District Court on Friday and was remanded in custody to appear again on January 27. He was ordered to undergo a psychiatric assessment, and granted interim name suppression.

This is not the first time the Manson family, or at least its family business, has been touched by tragedy. In 2010, Mansons TCLM engineer Brad Callaghan was arrested after police searched his office at a Manson's construction site (the Telecom — now Spark — office in Victoria Street) as they sought evidence about the disappearance of Remuera mother Carmen Thomas (32). In 2012, Mr Callaghan (33 at the time of his conviction) received a life sentence after being found guilty of murdering Ms Thomas.

• NBR Rich List profile: Manson Family