DNA mystery remains in Mellory Manning murder case

Published: 7:39AM Wednesday March 12, 2014 Source: ONE News/ Fairfax

Mellory Manning - Source: ONE News

After five years and hundreds of DNA tests, police remain confident they will find out who raped Mellory Manning on the night she was killed.

The man responsible was the only one linked by DNA to the fatal assault on Ms Manning, 27, at the Mongrel Mob's gang pad at Galbraith Ave, Avonside, on the night of December 18, 2008.

No-one, not even the Mongrel Mob prospect yesterday convicted of Manning's murder, identified him.

Ms Manning's murderer, Mauha Huatahi Fawcett, 26, named four patched mobsters when he described the fatal assault to police. None of them matched the only DNA profile found on Ms Manning's body.

Despite Fawcett's conviction, police say their inquiry's not over, as others were ''clearly involved'' in her death.

Police say they are still obtaining DNA samples in an attempt to identify the man, from both within the Mongrel Mob and from members of public.

Detective Inspector Greg Williams, who led the murder investigation, said outside court yesterday he was confident police would find this offender.

"We believe this person is clearly involved in this murder. We believe clearly he is closely associated with the Aotearoa Mongrel Mob, or the Mongrel Mob at large," he said.

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DNA mystery remains in Mellory Manning murder case