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Guardian

Ashburton

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Thursday, December 20, 2012

FIRST PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 27, 1879

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By Susan Sandys Police are re-interviewing some of the people they spoke to in the early stages of their inquiry into Sina Solomona’s murder. Detective senior sergeant John Rae said police still believed it was likely the suspect would be among the 25 to 30 people they had already spoken to, however they had an open mind and were seeking as much information from the public as possible. “We still have an open mind, it could be someone out there we don’t know anything about yet.” Police were no closer to making an arrest and there was no list of suspects at this stage. It was a matter of getting as much information from people as possible and checking and rechecking the stories of those interviewed, and backing that up with accounts

from others and CCTV footage from around Ashburton. Police increased their resources from 20 to 24 staff working on the inquiry yesterday. They say there may have been a sexual element to the attack, and evidence indicates the victim was killed by someone she knew or was familiar with. Mr Rae said there was a “sense of urgency” as many people the team needed to talk to would soon be going away for holidays over the Christmas break. The number of 24 officers did not include members of the force’s specialist search team, who have been searching gardens, rubbish bins, culverts and house roofs for an unspecified item. Mr Rae expected the specialist search team would continue searching throughout today. He could not elaborate further as to what the team was searching for,

Photo Joseph Johnson 191212-JJ-005

Scanning rooftops for an unspecified item in Ashburton yesterday were members of the police special search team.

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purchase photos except to say there was one item in particular which may be missing from the house and may be related to the attack and it had still not been found. If the search team’s efforts continued to prove unsuccessful police may seek the public’s help in looking for the item. Police were still looking for information from the public. If anybody had seen people or a person around the house or in the general vicinity of the Cass Street house in the early hours of Saturday morning, or had heard someone talking about being there, or knew of someone who had unexplained injuries or unexplained blood stains on their clothing, they should contact police. Mr Rae said police were no closer to finding out whether a bloodied hand print found on a clothing bin near the house was related to the attack, and this would most likely have to be determined forensically. Sina was attacked after her sister’s partner dropped her home between 2.20am to 2.30am on Saturday, after finishing a CMP Canterbury shift at 1am and going to a friend’s place. She suffered injuries from an unidentified blunt object and a sharp blade, including cuts to her face and throat. She was discovered fatally injured by her step brother at about 2.36am. It is unknown whether Sina’s attacker came to

Yesterday morning specialist search team members went house to house with a ladder to search rooftops. the door after she entered the house alone, or was already in the house. Mr Rae said it was unknown whether the attacker had intimate knowledge of Sina’s movements and knew she would be home alone at the time. “She wouldn’t usually be home by herself,” he said. Sina lived at the house with seven other family members including her three-year-old

daughter, but all were at another family property in town at the time. Mr Rae said police appreciated the help of locals. “Those who think they have information have offered it. People are as keen to see it solved as we are.” Sina’s body was to be released by the coroner back to her family yesterday. Moving tributes have contin-

ued to flow on a Rest In Paradise Sina Solomona page set up on Facebook, with one contributor yesterday saying people would not rest until justice had been done. Meanwhile, the block of Cass Street between Peter Street and Cox Street remained blocked off yesterday. However, that was not the only area which was the target of police interest. Another associated property used by Solomona family members at Allenton had

Photo Joseph Johnson 191212-JJ-003

police cars parked outside around 5pm, and search team members with a ladder viewing roofs and last night a house in Aitken Street was cordoned off as police searched the premises. Police could not be contacted for comment. Anyone with information can contact Christchurch police on (03)363-7400, or anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Most dairy owners keen to support a legal high ban By Sam Morton Several Ashburton dairy owners say they would support a move to keep legal highs out of Mid Canterbury for good. Next year, the Government is making every effort to stamp out legal highs such as synthetic cannabis K2, by introducing complex laws and heavy costs to those wishing to continue selling the products. Most dairy owners in the district have worked quickly to rid their stores of the stock, but despite the majority team effort, it appears not all dairy owners have the community’s best interests at heart. In a brief survey of the four main corners, Tinwald, Netherby, Allenton and Creek Road – Tinwald’s

First and Last Dairy was still stocking its supply – although it was the only dairy that was. A staff member said the dairy stocked legal highs, pointing out they were a popular item. She then said the legal high products would be removed from the store, following the Government’s law change next month. However, all dairy owners spoken to yesterday said they would support a similar pledge to Timaru dairies, which involves the neighbourhood’s dairies not selling, restocking or supplying any form of synthetic drug for the foreseeable future. Creek Road Dairy owner Maria Martinez said she had never sold legal highs, but she has seen first hand the effects they can have on

Kevin Clifford youths - addicted to them. “They have come in before, 14/15 year-olds looking to get their hands on it, asking to buy it.

“They have white faces, almost, and it is very sad to see – I want it out of the community for good,” she said. Allenton Dairy owner Kirtesh Sheh said although his shop had stopped selling legal highs a while ago, he had no doubt some of his customers had other methods of getting them. “No law will stop these kids getting it, if they want it, they will get it. “Even if my shop does not sell them, it will make no difference to our community – they will always find a way of getting their hands on these synthetic drugs,” he said. Safer Ashburton general manager Kevin Clifford confirmed discussions had been held with community organisations regarding stamp-

ing out legal highs, but no decisions had been made. However, he did not rule out community focused action in the future. “Who knows what’s on the cards, but it’s certainly something that may pop up in the new year, depending on what problems we have in the district. “It’s a real talking point, but from a Safer Ashburton perspective, we haven’t launched any campaigns like Timaru,” Mr Clifford said. Selling legal highs next year will come with hefty penalities, following the Government’s law change. All dairies will be prohibited from selling the products and a minimum purchase age of 18 will be introduced. The labelling must also be regulated at all times.

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