Hundreds expected at murder victim's funeral

Police said Mr Ferguson (left) and Ms Waldin were victims of a "heinous crime" at the Ragimarie Flats in Fielding.

Hundreds of people are expected to fill Feilding's St Paul's Presbyterian Church today for murder victim Ted Ferguson's funeral.

The 73-year-old and companion Margaret Waldin, 76, were found brutally stabbed in his retirement unit on Sunday May 29.

At Mrs Waldin's funeral on Saturday, hundreds turned up at St Bridget's Catholic Church to farewell her and pay tribute to her "kind nature and love and affection for people".

Wayne Flynn, owner of the Manchester Tavern, where the couple were last seen alive on Friday, May 27, said there was a numbness around the town as people searched for answers to the double-slaying.

"It's very quiet down here now. The police have been back several times, but no one's saying anything," Mr Flynn said.

Police spokesman Inspector Dave White said officers had been using video footage from the Manchester to try to get the names of up to 60 people who had been in the bar.

But Mr White said police were not interested in anyone in particular.

"Suspect is not a word we have used. These were simply people who were in the bar and we need to speak to them," he said.

Police wanted to speak to everyone in the bar to get the names of others who had been in the hotel and to pinpoint the movements of Mr Ferguson and Mrs Waldin, he said.

Mr White said police had yet to say what time they thought the two had left the Manchester.

Investigations are continuing into the double murder, including a scene examination which should finish in the next few days, he said.

Meanwhile, police have also told people not to take the law into their own hands in the wake of the killings.

Inquiry head Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Sheridan said any vigilante action would be "not helpful" after a Feilding man friendly with the dead couple claimed in a Sunday newspaper to know the house where the killers lived.

The comments echo those of Father Percy Kimble, who told mourners at Mrs Waldin's funeral that the Bible tells them good people will suffer in this world, but that they will be rewarded in the afterlife.

He said anger and revenge were normal emotions to be feeling as people grieved for the fun-loving mother, grandmother and friend.