Will TV psychics reveal my sister’s killer?

Eight years after her murder, Chattrice MaihiCarroll’s family turns to the spirit world to find out how she died. By Tommy Livingston.

EIGHT years after the brutal stabbing of a Hawke’s Bay mum, her family has called in a team of TV psychics in the hope of solving the mystery of her murder.

Chattrice Maihi-Carroll, a 46-year-old mother-of-five, died in her Napier home in 2008. Her neighbour, Zion King, was charged with her murder but was later discharged after private investigators working for the defence found evidence that contradicted the prosecution case.

And now Maihi-Carroll’s family has called in TVNZ’s Sensing Murder programme in a bid to uncover new information about her death. It is understood Sue Nicholson is one of two psychics featured in the episode.

‘‘All we want to know is who murdered her,’’ Maihi-Carroll’s sister, Marilyn Walker said.

Maihi-Carroll’s family had believed police would be able to take King to trial, but were left shocked when the charge was later dropped.

‘‘We believed the police. For it to not go to trial was a huge bombshell,’’ she said. ‘‘Ourmum and dad have died since then, they never really got over it.’’

King, who spent 14 months in custody while charged with Maihi-Carrol’s murder before being granted bail, said he had been contacted by the programme.

He refused to appear on the show, instead saying he was focusing on compensation for the time he spent in prison.

‘‘I definitely want her killer to be found. I have had enough of it, though. I have had enough of the media. What are they going to do to solve it? It is just entertainment. I amnot an entertainer.’’

Maihi-Carroll’s other neighbour, Eddie Nathan, was also considered to be a ‘‘person of interest’’ after a small spatter of his blood was found in his house.

He died in 2015, but always denied any involvement.

Forensic scientist Dr Anna Sandiford, who helped analyse evidence for Zion King’s defence, said she had reservations about new information from psychics.

‘‘I would be incredibly sceptical as a scientist with anything which came from a programme like that.

‘‘Ideally you wouldn’t give anybody any information. They should be providing a comment based on identifiable facts. If you start giving people background information, or names of people who may have been involved, you are already creating a bias.’’

A woman who stays at the flat where Maihi-Carroll was killed said psychics recently spent a day in the house trying to connect with her spirit.

‘‘They said she was at peace. They said sometimes you might see something in the corner of your eye, and that will be her.’’

A police spokeswoman said they were aware the case was being looked into by the Sensing Murder psychics.

‘‘The investigation into the death of Chattrice Maihi-Carroll remains open and police welcome any information from the public in relation to the case,’’ she said.

TVNZ would not confirm when the show would air.