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Stephen Thorpe��was killed in a violent attack in the Blockhouse Bay Tennis Club carpark on Saturday.��

Police say his attacker likely fled the scene in blood-stained clothing.��

Those living in surrounding streets have been asked for security and dashcam footage.��

Detectives hunting for the killer of an Auckland scientist believe someone is sitting on “key information” that will help lead to the man who fatally stabbed him in a tennis club car park.��

This morning a group gathered to bless the scene in Auckland’s Blockhouse Bay Tennis Club where 54-year-old��Stephen Thorpe died in a violent attack on Saturday morning.��

The group, some embracing each other in tears, stood near the tennis club to remember Thorpe and bless the scene.��

Although the cordons have been lifted a��large police presence remains, with officers continuing to question neighbours and collect evidence.��

Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin told the��Herald��from the scene the blessing was organised by police and it was a “great turn out”.��

“This is something we do to bring people closure, people have to move on with their lives.”��

He said investigators continued to sift through “good information” but still appealed for security footage.��

• 'Be careful': MP warns Blockhouse Bay residents while killer remains at large
• Tennis club stabbing: Slain scientist named, police search for blood-stained killer
• Blockhouse Bay homicide: Victim was a ‘beautiful soul’, tennis club says

Baldwin believed someone was sitting on “key information” and wanted them to come forward immediately.��

Stephen Thorpe has been named as the victim in the Blockhouse Bay stabbing.��

Police were still at the Rathlin St scene yesterday where it remained under a cordon while investigations continued.��

Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin said police were preparing to lift their cordons at the club. He said the scene examination was complete.��

“Police have been in contact with immediate family, who are based in Australia, and we will keep them updated as the investigation progresses,” Baldwin said.��

Thorpe was a��highly regarded entomologist��with a passion for seeking out and identifying bugs and plants.��

A founding trustee of the New Zealand Moths and Butterflies Trust, Jacqui Knight, told the��Herald��that Thorpe had “no enemies”.��

Her building is next to the tennis club and she had known Thorpe for 10 years.��

“He was highly respected … he knew so much about the flora and fauna in the area.��

“He was always helping people … he was so well-liked.��

“I never knew anyone to speak ill of Stephen.”��

‘Be careful’ warns New Lynn MP��

Yesterday New Lynn MP Paulo Garcia said��the murder was “mind-boggling”.��

“[Thorpe] was someone who, I read, wouldn’t have hurt anyone, and so we wonder how something like this could happen, and we all need to be careful.”��

He said his office had been in touch with the Police Auckland City West area commander, and he believed police were doing the best they could.��

“They’re on 24/7 deployment. They’re talking to witnesses, the usual CCTV search from the houses that could have a view of the place. So we will wait and see,” he said.��

He said at this stage of the investigation, community safety was important as the killer had not yet been caught.��

“We don’t know who’s out there, who’s done that, why it’s been done, and right there where everybody walks through. I walk through the Blockhouse Bay Tennis Club, that’s a very public place,” he said.��

Violent struggle before death��

Police had earlier revealed a “violent struggle” took place between Thorpe and his attacker.��

Their attention was focused on finding Thorpe’s attacker, who was likely wearing blood-stained clothing after the fatal stabbing.��

Police continue to investigate the stabbing of scientist Stephen Thorpe near the Blockhouse Bay Tennis Club yesterday. Photo / Michael Craig.��

Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin said there was a “large amount of blood” at the scene and some of that would have transferred to the killer.��

“This offender will have gone somewhere, likely in an agitated state and likely with some blood on him. Someone will know who this person is and I challenge them to do the right thing and come forward.”��

Rachel Maher is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. She has worked for the��Herald��since 2022.��