Killer ‘took Jaguar’

The killer of veteran journalist Derek Round drove around Whanganui for hours in his blue Jaguar after bashing him to death, police say.

Round, 77, was found dead in the living room of his Campbell St home on Thursday morning.

Police believe he died on Wednesday evening after suffering a ‘‘number of violent blows to the head’’.

They will not say whether a weapon was used in the attack.

Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Kirby, of Whanganui CIB, said a person saw Round’s 1996 blue Jaguar XJ6 being driven down Somme Parade in the suburb of Aramoho about 8am on Thursday – about 30 minutes before his body was discovered.

‘‘We believe the perpetrator or perpetrators for this killing have taken Derek’s car on Wednesday evening and returned it some time Thursday morning.’’

Police believed the car was driven to a number of homes in Aramoho before it was returned to Round’s home, Kirby said.

A team of up to 15 people searched parks and reserves near the Whanganui River yesterday looking for clothing linked to the crime scene. It is believed the killer dumped the items.

Residents have been asked to check their front yards and bushes for the missing clothes, which included a red long-sleeved jersey or sweatshirt, a black leather sleeveless vest, dark stonewashed jeans, dark fingerless gloves, and a pair of dark coloured sports shoes.