By Charlotte Shipman
Friends of the hit-and-run victim whose body was found in an abandoned car say Anne McCullough will always be remembered for her smile, determination and community spirit.
Meanwhile, police say sightings of the distinctive car which hit her are crucial to their investigation.
Julie Boulton first played netball with Ms McCullough in 1987, and last year they played together again.
“Annie always enjoyed everything, she always had a smile on her face... she was a great person and she'll be really missed, she was always happy and smiling,” says Ms Boulton.
The 45-year-old mother-of-two was running along Frankley Road when she was hit by a car on Saturday afternoon.
A member of the public found her body 10km away in the back seat of a 1987 purple Holden Commodore sedan - in the car park at a popular recreation spot called ‘The Meeting of the Waters’.
“It's wrong," says Ms Boulton. "It's not the way it should be, she should be still doing that with her kids and living a lovely long life with Jeff - it's not right.”
Police want to speak with anyone who saw the distinctive car on Friday or Saturday.
“A lot of recreational cyclists and runners… might have seen our victim,” says investigation head Det Snr Sgt Grant Coward.
David Lean knew Ms McCullough since she was eight years old.
“Annie was a hard worker, not only involved with surf lifesaving and netball but a whole host of community things,” says Mr Lean. “When you take that out the social fabric of a place like New Plymouth that leaves a very, very big gap with someone like Anne McCullough disappearing.”
The 27-year-old local man charged with Ms McCullogh's manslaughter has been remanded in custody until his first appearance in the New Plymouth district court on Thursday.
Ms McCullogh's funeral is scheduled for Friday.
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