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Drugs link suspected in loner's mystery death
by Martin Johnston, New Zealand Herald, 5 July 1999
The suspicious death of a Great Barrier Island hermit, whose
badly decomposed body was found in his isolated home, could
be connected to the drugs underworld.
Locals suspect gang involvement in the death of the man -
almost certainly 51-year-old Colin Goode - and police say
they cannot rule out a drug-related motive.
Police launched a murder investigation at the weekend after
a preliminary post-mortem finding on Friday that the death
was inconsistent with natural causes.
Mr Goode, an islander for about 20 years, complained to
police in 1991 that he had been handcuffed, punched and
robbed at gunpoint of $1240 and a kilogram of cannabis.
Residents yesterday recalled the incident and said it was
hard not to think Mr Goode's death was drug and
gang-related.
Detective Sergeant Ravlich said that if the death was from
foul play, he "certainly wouldn't rule out" drugs as a
motive, but "I don't know about gang-related."
Mr Goode did not appear to have been growing cannabis
recently.
"I think at 51 he was getting a bit older. He just wanted to
live the quiet life."
Mr Goode's dog was also found dead but Detective Sergeant
Ravlich would not comment on that as it "may be part of the
scene."
Islanders described Mr Goode as quietly spoken and very
pleasant.
Police find pot growing site at hermit's house
by Darrel Mager, New Zealand Herald, 9 July 1999
A Great Barrier Island hermit's past took a murky turn
yesterday when police found an area near the murdered man's
house that they believe was used to grow cannabis.
A homicide team investigating the death of 51-year-old Colin
Goode found the site yesterday after the Eagle helicopter
spotted something suspicious amid dense bush during an
aerial search on Wednesday.
Inquiry head Detective Senior Sergeant Andy Lovelock said
there were no cannabis plants at the plot, but there was
evidence they had been growing there.
He would not say how large the plantation was or how long
ago it had been harvested.
Cannabis was found inside the loner's isolated Claris home,
where his skeletal remains were found last week.
Locals have speculated that Mr Goode's death may be
connected to the drugs underworld.
In 1991, Mr Goode told police that armed Mongrel Mob members
had assaulted him in his home, demanding 13kg of cannabis.
The men allegedly robbed him of 1kg of cannabis and $1240.
Detective Senior Sergeant Lovelock said that while residents
had told officers Mr Goode was known to smoke cannabis,
there was nothing to indicate he was a dealer.
The 12 officers are due to leave the island today, although
Detective Senior Sergeant Lovelock said it was not a sign
that the inquiry was winding down.
"We've done all we can here for now and it now seems that
forensic tests on Mr Goode's body are going to take longer
than anticipated to complete, so it is preferable for staff
to return to the mainland until firm results are available."
He said scientists were having difficulty with their tests
because Mr Goode's body was severely decomposed.
He was last seen in April.
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