By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
ALMOST two years after her murder, new evidence in the killing of Doveton’s Rani Featherston has been released by police.
Rani was found dead with multiple stab wounds in Lace Street, Doveton, about 7am on Wednesday 2 April in 2014.
Homicide detectives understand the 34-year-old was heard speaking to a man in nearby Oleander Street overnight between 1 and 2 April, hours before her body was found.
“We’ve had information provided that Rani had been speaking to someone in the street and we believe that was a male,” Detective Senior Sergeant Steve McIntyre said.
“We’ve got a male voice, described to us as being engaged in a conversation with Rani overnight on the night of her death, at this stage we don’t have any other details about that person.
“There’s no indication that the voice was engaged in an argument, it was a calm voice from what’s been described to us.
“We don’t know whether this is a person of interest to the actual murder or someone who is a witness who can give us some further information about Rani’s movements on the night.”
Detectives have also released a photo of Ms Featherston as well as CCTV footage of her in a business premises in Robinson Street the day before her killing.
Police set up an information caravan on Thursday and also conducted a search of the drains in Oleander Street.
“We’re re-focusing from our earlier searches we conducted in the area of Lace Street where the murder took place, just in the chance that a weapon or some other item of interest might still exist in the drains,” Det Sen Sgt McIntyre said.
He said police had had information about the male voice “for some time” but were working through a number of other avenues of inquiry and “this is where we’re at at this stage”.
“It is concerning, particularly for the local residents of the Doveton and Eumemmerring area,” Det Sen Sgt McIntyre said
“We just don’t have any answers for them and we don’t have any answers for the family at this point in time.
“Her family are struggling with her death, they’re looking for answers.”
Any information to CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au.
