Billboard used in hunt for taxi driver's killer

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PUBLIC APPEAL: The billboard police are erecting in Auckland seeking information in the case of slain taxi driver Hiren Mohini.

Operation Edgewater CCTV Footage

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In a first for Auckland, police are resorting to using a billboard calling for information in the killing of taxi driver Hiren Mohini.

The billboard will go up tonight in the city's down town red light district, Fort St.

Mr Mohini, 39, was killed in Auckland's View Rd, Mt Eden, in the early hours of Sunday morning January 31 after picking up a fare near the Sky City casino in Auckland's CBD.

Police believe it is likely his killer was his last passenger, who attacked to avoid paying a $15.20 fare.

The billboard, measuring 6m x 3m, appeals to passersby for information about the identity of a man police have identified from CCTV footage taken on the night of the killing. They also want to talk to the owner of a blue carry bag and a distinctive knitted black cap.

"We're trying a range of methods to appeal to the public for information. The billboard space was vacant and its location ties in nicely with the fact we're appealing to Asian communities in the inner city to help us solve this mystery," officer in charge of the homicide investigation, Detective Senior Sergeant Hywel Jones said.

The man in the footage looks Asian and the police team, which has now swelled to 50, are focusing on Auckland's inner city apartment Asian community.

"We'll also have staff and members of our voluntary Asian Safety Patrol Group handing out fliers and talking to some of the thousands of people celebrating Chinese New Year at the ASB Showgrounds on Saturday," said Mr Jones.

Mr Jones was hopeful that a key piece of information would lead to an arrest shortly.

In another break from traditional publicity methods, Police have been given a set of DVDs which make appeals to viewers for information and which will be distributed to inner city retail stores and supermarkets for broadcast on their in-house advertising screens.

Meanwhile the Government is poised to make cameras or safety screens compulsory in taxis following a spate of high-profile attacks.

Transport Minister Steven Joyce said this morning that he had asked for a report on whether safety measures should be mandated in cabs following a meeting with the Taxi Federation.

Anyone with information about who killed Hiren Mohini should call 0800 444 014. Anonymous information can go to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A dedicated Operation Edgewater e-mail address has also been added - edgewater@police.govt.nz

- © Fairfax NZ News