Police hunt four after liquor shop owner shot dead during robbery

**kellyhound** · #1 ● 06-10-2008, 08:56 AM

New Zealand 07/06/2008
The brother-in-law of Navtej Singh has told a media conference that the daughters of the slain liquor shop owner don't know what happened to their father.

Through an interpreter, Manjinder Singh told reporters that the children believed their father was in hospital.

"The kids have been told Dad is in hospital. They are asking why Dad is not in. They pick up phone calls thinking Dad is calling," said Mr Singh.

Mr Singh was shot in the chest after three gunmen burst into his liquor shop in Manurewa on Saturday night, stealing alcohol and cash. He died 24 hours later.

Manjinder Singh said his sister Harjinder Kaur will not be able to remarry because finding a new partner while looking after her three daughters and elderly parents will be difficult.

Mr Singh made an impassioned plea for anyone in the community to come forward if they have any information.

Meanwhile the police inquiry is ongoing. Detective Inspector Jim Gallagher is "110 per cent" confident that those responsible for the shooting will be caught. Mr Gallagher said the offenders had local knowledge and have ties to the area.

He said a number of calls have been received and police are following them up.

"The message is to those who know the killers, to those who have shared in the proceeds, to make themselves known to the police," Mr Gallagher said.

He said the police can deal with information confidentially.

"No doubt several of the associates have now shared the drinks that were stolen for the life of Mr Singh and these others - these family friends and associates - will have to consider that these drinks were paid for by this man's life and what they've enjoyed may now have a very bitter taste," Mr Gallagher said.

He said stills from the robbery will be shown at the Manukau police station and in the mobile police station at the South Mall shopping centre tomorrow.

Police still want to speak to four woman and a man who entered the shop after the shooting.

They are also appealing for sightings of a dark four door sedan and a white four wheel drive which left the scene at speed.

Earlier, newly released CCTV vision showed customers leaning over the counter for a look at Navtej Singh as he lay fatally injured on the floor of his liquor store.

Shortly after the shooting, as his business partner desperately called police and ambulance, four women and a man entered the shop.

They each leaned over the counter to see Mr Singh who then waited 26 minutes for police and 31 minutes for ambulance to arrive.

Mr Gallagher said it is possible the would-be customers saw something outside the shop before they came in.

Yesterday, Mr Gallagher told a media conference that it appeared a man had taken a box of alco-pops without paying.

But today police have been in contact with the manager of the shop and said the man could have left some money on the counter before leaving with the alco-pops.

The people in the security tape footage and anyone with information are asked to call 0508 RIVERTON or 0508-748-378.

Police are also seeking sightings of a dark sedan and a white four-wheeled drive leaving Riverton Rd at speed.