No bodies in car – police

Police have confirmed no bodies were found in the car belonging to missing man John Beckenridge.

Southland area commander Inspector Kelvin Lloyd said yesterday that police had finished a forensic examination of the car, which was recovered from the sea near Curio Bay in the Catlins earlier this month.

‘‘With the condition of the vehicle, and the conditions of the surf it has been in for the past months, there was a chance we would not be able to locate anything, even if Mike and John had been in the car,’’ Lloyd said.

Beckenridge and his estranged stepson Mike Zhao-Beckenridge have been missing since March 13.

Police had spoken with the family about the results, Lloyd said.

‘‘They are distraught since they have not been able to find closure regarding this part of the investigation.’’

Sightings were still reported of the pair, but being police have had no confirmed sightings, he said.

‘‘With the fact that there have been no confirmed sightings and the results of the forensic examination now being complete, staff will be collating all the information we have, which will then be passed on to the coroner.’’

A police spokesperson said investigations would continue if new information came to hand.

‘‘If anyone out there has information that might help, we’d encourage them to bring that information forward.’’