Kevin, a Dark-haired 1.83m (6ft) tall Maori was the third of four boys, was born and raised in Te Anau, and attended Fiordland College. His mother, 78-year-old Elsie, told the NZHerald that she remembers him being “a mouthy person, but he was never a person who got into fights.”
Like his father Terence, he became a builder and played rugby and squash. He got married and had two girls before splitting with his wife.
He had his third child, with his de facto partner at the time. They lived in Nelson for about 5 years but separated just before his death.
Nelson is located at the top of the South Island of NZ. Nelson is the oldest city in the South Island and the second-oldest settled city in New Zealand – Nelson City has a population of around 50,000, making it New Zealand’s 12th most populous city.
On that Saturday night, May 2nd, 1993, 30-year-old Kevin dressed in a pair of grey corduroy trousers and a dark-colored shirt. He pulled on a black jacket with white flashes on the pockets and collar and a pair of calf-length, grey cowboy boots.
His friend, Bill Marshall, was visiting from his hometown Te Anau.
Kevin called a taxi, which picked them up about 8 pm from his Titoki St home and took them into town.
The two men first went to the Metropolitan Hotel on Bridge St, and met with some friends and had a few drinks. About 9.20 pm, they went to the Wakatu Hotel, ran into more friends, and stayed there until 1.40 am. Then it was back to the Metropolitan before moving on to Horatio’s nightclub, in Halifax st and staying until closing time at 3am. Marshall left Kevin to return home on his own as he had to run an errand.
Early investigations led police to believe O’Loughlin was near the corner of Hardy St and Montgomery carpark when someone confronted him with a weapon.
After Marshall left O’Loughlin alone police to believe O’Loughlin crossed Halifax St after leaving Horatios. From there he walked through the MS Ford car yard, close to where the Hunting and Fishing store is now located.
He crossed Achilles Ave to Wakatu Lane and walked through the Nelson bus depot to the Montgomery carpark.
At some point, an attacker stabbed him six times. He was stabbed in the shoulder and chest. His forehead slashed, leaving a 15cm wound. One wound pierced his heart, killing him in minutes.
It’s thought when he turned to run, he fell. Along with the fatal wound to his heart, O’Loughlin was stabbed three times in the back.
Reports in the Mail said bloodstains near his body showed he staggered toward the carpark and slid down the wall of what was then Dick Smith’s – now Hardy’s Bar and TAB – before collapsing
It was less than 30 minutes since he left the nightclub.
His lifeless body was found by a taxi driver at about 3.30am lying spread-eagled and face down at the entrance of the busy Montgomery Square carpark off Hardy St. The police were notified by the taxi company.
The police investigation revealed several groups of people walked past O’Loughlin’s body at about 3.15am, thinking he was asleep. Two people were seen leaning over the body at about 3.20am. The couple was later described as a short, stocky Maori woman and a European man.
Another person, wearing a bush jacket or sweat top was also seen near the body
The attacker was “a person with a mission – someone who was intent on injuring the victim,” police media liaison officer Sergeant Mark Chillingworth later said soon after the homicide.
“The ferocity of the wounds would indicate that whoever attacked him did so with a vengeance.”
It was unlikely the killing was a case of mistaken identity. It was more likely a random attack or the offender had a grudge against him, Chillingworth said.
Nine days after his death O’Loughlin’s life was remembered in a joint funeral at Te Anau Hall. His lifelong friend, Trevor Beange, was killed in a motor accident the same weekend. They were farewelled side-by-side. About 700 friends and family shared stories of O’Loughlin’s life.
In 2003 police sent blood samples and exhibits from the crime scene to be tested.
In 2005, police took a fresh look at the case. officers took DNA samples from suspects and were able to build a profile of the murderer. For the first time, the killer was revealed to be a man and the samples also suggested that Kevin was killed by one person.
The DNA did not reveal who killed Kevin.
SOURCES
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=156622
https://www.newshub.co.nz/nznews/police-yet-to-crack-pizza-store-murder-2015061818
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paeroa
New Zealand Mysteries 