DNA may hold clue to Karen's murder

Karen Aim

Police are hoping swabs taken from the body of murdered Scottish backpacker Karen Aim could provide vital clues in the hunt for her killer.

As the investigation enters its fourth day, police are becoming more convinced that whoever smashed 18 windows of reinforced glass at Taupo-nui-A-Tia college, in a "frenzied attack", also inflicted fatal head injuries on the 26-year-old woman, found dying in a pool of blood.

"We've given three days for the people responsible for this damage to come forward," investigation head detective senior sergeant Greg Turner said yesterday.

"I'm fast beginning to believe the persons responsible for this damage are responsible for the violent attack on Karen."

He said whether Aim had taken a short cut through school grounds or interrupted the school vandals before her murder, was still not known.

Fifty police staff were now working on the inquiry. Police hoped forensic tests of several unnamed items from the crime scene, as well as DNA samples taken from Aim's body, would yield results.

"ESR took DNA samples, but it's too early to tell [what results will be]," Turner told the Herald on Sunday. "Luminol, chemical treatment, was used in a wide area [around the crime scene]. The council turned off the street lights and the chemical was used to identify invisible blood staining.

"ESR have been here and swabbed a number of items."

A post mortem examination had so far found no evidence of sexual assault. Robbery had been ruled out as a motive - Aim still had her cellphone and wallet.

Aim was returning home to a flat she shared with two other young women after a night out when she was murdered, only metres from her front door, in an attack police have described as "particularly brutal".

Backpackers spoken to yesterday said they still felt New Zealand was safe, although they were now more wary.