Jag key to ‘horrific’ death
Tight-lipped police say they are making ‘‘positive progress’’ in the hunt for the killer or killers of veteran war correspondent Derek Round, and insist breakthroughs will come from public tips.
It was a tip-off which first sent police to Round’s Whanganui home, where the 77-year-old was found in his lounge on Thursday morning.
A key factor is the movements of Round’s distinctive blue Jaguar car.
A team of 40 police working on the homicide investigation were yesterday focusing on piecing together the events that unfolded before his death.
Interviews with Round’s neighbours, a scene examination at his house, a forensic examination of his car and searches along both sides of the Whanganui River were continuing.
‘‘We’re making positive progress and I’m confident we will get a result and catch Derek’s killer or killers,’’ said Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Kirby, of Whanganui CIB.
Last night Kirby confirmed a post-mortem had been completed on Round.
He said Round had died following ‘‘a horrific attack’’.
Police wanted to hear from anyone who saw Round’s dark blue 1996 Jaguar XJ6 on the move between 7pm on Wednesday and 8.30am on Thursday.
‘‘I also want to hear from anyone who may have seen certain items of clothing, which may have been discarded,’’ Kirby said.
The clothes included a red longsleeved jersey or sweatshirt, a black leather sleeveless vest, dark coloured stonewashed jeans, dark fingerless gloves, and a pair of darkcoloured sports shoes with light markings around the soles and coloured laces.
Round had been living in his Campbell St home on his own.
Neighbours described the area as quiet and safe. ‘‘We’re all very shocked and horrified,’’ said Joe Yates, who lives nearby.
During his long and distinguished career in the media, Round was posted throughout the world covering historical events including the Vietnam War, Prime Minister Rob Muldoon’s visit to China and Prince Charles and Lady Diana’s wedding.
In 2010, Round was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to journalism.
The Canterbury University law graduate turned to journalism after working as a legal intern on the infamous Parker-hulme murder trial which became the basis for the Heavenly Creatures book and film.
He was bureau chief in Singapore and Hong Kong for international news agency Reuters in the 1960s, and Asia correspondent for the New Zealand Press Association in the mid-1970s.
He is survied by his former wife, a son and two daughters.