Two of Arthur Easton’s children have urged anyone with information about their father’s killing to “do the right thing and come forward”.
It’s the first time the family has spoken publicly since the murder, police said.
Easton, 52 at the time of his death, was killed 39 years ago on October 13, 1985 at his home in Auckland’s Papakura.
Police said a male intruder entered the Grove Road home at about 8pm that day.
Easton and his two teenage sons confronted him, leading to a “violent altercation” that resulted in Easton’s death, police said.
Patrick Easton appealed for anyone with information about the killing to come forward. (Source: Supplied)
Alan Hall was wrongfully imprisoned for 19 years for the murder, before his conviction was quashed in 2022.
Patrick and Marie Easton, two of Easton’s children, issued a statement via police today.
A ‘good man’ and ‘good father’
Easton was one of six children who grew up in Waitara, Taranaki, police said. His telecommunications career took him to Auckland with his wife and five children.
“[He was a] good man with a great smile and sparkling blue eyes,” daughter Marie said today.
“He was a good father and worked hard to provide what we needed.
“Fun was based around the simple things in life – going to the beach, barbecues, family and good friends.
“Dad was always interested in what we were doing and what was happening in our lives – he was always there to talk to.”
She said Easton’s death had been a struggle for the family.
“What has kept us going is knowing that dad would have wanted us to look after each other, carry on and live good lives.
“It would be such a relief to know that the person responsible for Dad’s death had been found and that we had a chance of justice for our father,” she continued.
“I don’t think we will ever fully recover from this but knowing who did this would hopefully give us some answers and some closure.
“Please do the right thing and come forward.”
‘He taught us to always do the right thing’
Son Patrick said Easton had a great sense of humour and strong values. He said his father was intelligent, and the death had “sucked a lot of joy out of our lives”.
“He instilled in all of us a strong belief that we can succeed at what we set our minds to,” Patrick said.
“He taught us to always do the right thing and he would have loved to see and be part of the lives of his eight grandchildren and soon to be five great grandchildren.
“We are here to ask for help, and to get justice for our father.
“We know there are people still out there who have knowledge that can help.”
DNA has ‘significantly advanced’ over time – police
In October, police announced a $100,000 reward for information that leads to the murderer’s arrest and successful conviction.
Counties Manukau CIB Detective Inspector Warrick Adkin told 1News they had a “determined team committed to finding the person responsible”.
“Since we offered the $100,000 reward, we’ve had over 20 people contact us via email and phone. And some of that information is really encouraging, so I’m absolutely determined to follow up and corroborate that information with our team.
“Some of it is new information [and] some of it is from the original investigation back in 1985, and we’re working through that information at the moment and keeping an open mind about the information we do receive.”
Adkin said there were a “number of challenges” ahead of officers, and it would take time to work through all of the information received.
“Some of the information that we received since we launched the reward has ended up causing us to send detectives to Australia. And we’ve also been [going] throughout New Zealand making inquiries and talking to people.”
He could not go into more detail about the Australian police visits.
Adkin said modern DNA technology had “significantly advanced over time” and was helping with the case.
“The investigative techniques today are very different to what they were back in 1985. In particular the DNA, and we still have the woollen hat and the bayonet that were brought to the Grove Rd property on that Sunday night.
“We’re working through with ESR at the moment around forensic opportunities with those two items, and the DNA has significantly advanced over time. And that’s a work in progress at the moment.”
He said there were “a number of things” police were doing with ESR — but said they don’t solely rely on DNA to solve homicides.
“We’ll look at what we do establish from that forensic phase and corroborate that with other information we’ve collected.”
The reward will remain in place until January 24, 2025, Adkin said.
Anyone with information was urged to call 0800 GROVE 1985 (0800 47683 1985) or email Operation.Grove1985@police.govt.nz.
