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Operation MANU - One Year On

Tuesday 24 July 2012, 4:19PM

By New Zealand Police

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HELENSVILLE

One year has passed since the body of a 32 year old male was discovered by relatives at an address on SH16 in Helensville.

Police went to the property at 4.40pm on Friday 29 July 2011 and subsequently launched a homicide investigation after the results of an autopsy were known.  The investigation is known as Operation MANU.

Detective Inspector Greg Cramer, Field Crime Manager, Waitematä Police District is leading this investigation.

Mr. Cramer says in the past year more than 3, 000 people have been interviewed, many on multiple occasions. There are 18 police investigators who remain engaged in the day to day enquiries.

Detective Inspector Cramer concedes the circumstances of Mr. McMurdo’s murder remain baffling despite the rigorous and resolute efforts of his staff.

“Lee McMurdo was last seen at his home address on SH16 at 1.40pm on Tuesday 26 July 2011.  Evidence we have now indicates that Mr. McMurdo died in the early hours of Wednesday 27 July 2011. ”

“Police continue to make progress but at times it’s a challenge cutting through the rumor and innuendo that has captured the local community. We have worked hard to filter the rumors to arrive at the facts,” he said.

“Mr. McMurdo was a known user and low level dealer of illicit drugs. It seems he was seduced by them as a means of escaping a difficult financial situation following the collapse of his business.”

“I believe that Mr. McMurdo was dealing in the new illicit substance MDVP which is marketed and known as ‘bath salts.’ MDVP is a stimulant and relatively new to New Zealand, but is widely known in some Scandinavian Countries and parts of the United States.”

“A year of intensive investigation has had an impact on other criminal activities. Offenders have been arrested and a wide range of crimes solved.  Stolen boats, cars, earth moving machinery and a variety of illicit drugs are among items that have been recovered, but of course our focus remains on apprehending the person or persons responsible for Lee’s death.”

“A white Mitsubishi Mirage, with a black bonnet, stolen from West Auckland early on the morning of 27 July 2011 is believed to be linked to events surrounding Mr. McMurdo’s death.  It was driven north late on 31 July and is believed to have hit a cow in the Wellsford area, sustaining frontal damage.  Anyone who knows about or saw that car or its occupants is urged to contact police.”

“I am conscious that the passage of time affects relationships, friendships and allegiances among individuals and there are those in the community who know about this murder. Someone has the precise information that we need. If you know who murdered Lee Ross McMurdo, I urge you to contact the police immediately.”

“Call Operation MANU investigation team on 0508 00MANU-[0508 006268] OR call Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.  Or email the investigation team at opmanu@police.govt.nz,” Detective Inspector Cramer said.