Psychics rake over cold-case murder
One-time suspect hopes the killer is found, writes Tommy Livingston.
The murder of a Hawke’s Bay woman is being investigated by psychics from Sensing Murder in the hope of uncovering new information.
Chattrice Maihi-Carroll, a 46-year-old mother of five, was stabbed to death 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.
The killing is now the subject of TVNZ’s Sensing Murder programme. It is understood Sue Nicholson is one of two psychics featured in the episode.
Maihi-Carroll’s sister, Marilyn Walker, hoped the show would shed light on the mystery.
‘‘All we want to know is who murdered her,’’ she said.
Maihi-Carroll’s family had believed police would be able to take King to trial, but were left shocked when the charge was dropped.
‘‘We believed the police. For it to not go to trial was a huge bombshell,’’ she said.
‘‘Our mum and dad have died since then, they never really got over it.’’
King, who spent 14 months in custody, said he had been contacted by the programme.
He refused to appear on the show, but instead said he was focusing his efforts on getting 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 am not 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 her house.
He died in 2015, but always denied any involvement in her death.
All we want to know is who murdered her. Marilyn Walker, sister
Forensic scientist Dr Anna Sandiford, who helped analyse evidence for Zion King’s defence, said she had reservations about any new information the psychics may uncover.
‘‘I would be incredibly sceptical as a scientist with anything which came from a programme like that.’’
Any background information the psychics are given could heavily influence the conclusions they came to, she said.
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 MaihiCarroll 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.