Wellington, Feb 12 NZPA - Australian police are still hunting the killer of a Christchurch man who died 12 years ago, three years after he was attacked in Sydney, an inquest was told yesterday.

Peter Golley died in a Christchurch hospital in July 1997 after being beaten up working as a taxi driver in western suburbs of Sydney 1994, The Press reported.

He had returned to Christchurch five months after the attack, remaining in a vegetative state.

New South Wales police determined two people had been involved in the attack, Detective Sergeant Nigel Hughes, of Christchurch CIB, told the inquest.

Mesu Duwai was arrested and convicted of robbery and wounding Mr Golley. He was sentenced to eight years' jail, released in early 1998, and deported to Fiji.

In April 2000 the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions recommended Duwai be charged with murder. An arrest warrant was issued but Australian police had not found find Duwai, who was believed to be in Fiji.

Mr Hughes said he had been told the second man involved in the attack on Mr Golley was known to Australian police. However, further work was required to ensure conviction, he said.

Coroner Richard McElrea said he had previously decided to delay the inquest to avoid prejudicing any future criminal trial, and added that now he was satisfied it was appropriate to conclude.

"It is clear that death resulted from complications arising from severe head injuries, despite expert medical nursing care," he said.

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