The whānau of two Hawke's Bay homicide victims are joining with Police to urge those who know what happened to their loved ones to come forward and share what they know.
Eddie Peters was found bleeding on the driveway of a family member's home in Flaxmere, just after midnight on 16 November 2018. He had been violently beaten and died eight days later in Wellington Hospital.
Ariki Rigby was located deceased in a burned-out vehicle on River Road, Havelock North on 5 September 2022.
The investigation teams are making good progress and following strong lines of enquiry in both cases - however we know there are people who have information and are choosing not to share that with us.
Detective Senior Sergeant James Keene says that while the two deaths are not linked in any way, Police believe potential gang affiliations of those thought to be responsible are preventing possible witnesses from coming forward and speaking to Police in relation to both cases.
"The fact that nobody has been held accountable for either death weighs heavily on the families of both Eddie and Ariki, and on the officers on both investigation teams," says Detective Senior Sergeant Keene.
"We know there are people in our community who know what happened to Eddie and Ariki, and who was responsible."
"We also know there are a few reasons why people might not be talking - one of which is a belief that 'narking' is not the 'done' thing."
"My plea is that people set aside that belief and focus on what the right thing to do is. We have two grieving whānau who need and deserve to see justice for the deaths of their loved ones. Please put yourselves in their shoes and tell Police what you know, so that the people responsible can be held accountable."
Statement from Eddie Peters' whānau:
