Handbag a key clue in hunt for teacher's killer

Police have confirmed a handbag belonging to murdered teacher Lois Dear is missing and say if found it could lead them to her killer.

Detective Inspector Garth Bryan, who is leading the investigation into the killing at a Tokoroa school, said he did not know what was in the handbag or if it contained any money.

Ms Dear, 66, was found dead in her classroom at Strathmore School on Sunday.

She had been preparing lessons for her new entrant pupils who were due to return to school after holidays the following day.

Mr Bryan appealed to anyone who finds a handbag to urgently call police.

Ms Dear's Toyota Corolla car, which was stolen, probably after Ms Dear died, and was later found at the back of a church in Mossop Street, is also central to the murder inquiry.

Mr Bryan said today: "We obviously believe the driver's also the killer."

He said while officers did not know the identity of the driver, they were "starting to put together a picture" and were "relatively pleased" with the progress being made.

Mr Bryan warned that anyone hiding the killer could face charges. "However, if someone was to come to us and volunteer that information then we would obviously look very favourably towards them," he said.

- NZPA