More arrests in Dear case unlikely, say police

Police say further arrests in the Lois Dear murder investigation are unlikely.

"We're not moving in the direction of any other offenders," acting inquiry head Detective Sergeant Karl Thornton told the Herald yesterday.

Police had earlier ruled out further arrests for the Tokoroa teacher's murder but said it was possible others would face accessory charges.

But Mr Thornton said that was now unlikely and further charges against the man who allegedly killed Ms Dear were also unlikely.

The 23-year-old man, who has interim name suppression, is due to reappear in Tokoroa District Court today. He was represented by a duty solicitor at his first appearance on Tuesday, when he made no plea, but is understood to have engaged senior legal counsel since.

More than 20 officers are still working on the investigation, which is expected to continue until the end of the week.

Mr Thornton said police would work on pinpointing the movements of Ms Dear's car on July 16, the day her bashed body was found in her Strathmore School classroom, and continue speaking to witnesses and people in the area.

He would not comment on a report in the Waikato Times late last week that said the suspect had been arrested because police already had his DNA.

The newspaper quoted a Tokoroa senior sergeant as telling a South Waikato District Council meeting that a voluntary DNA sample was taken from the man two years ago.

Further reports about the alleged killer's activities have also emerged.

A Sunday Star-Times report said the man had been sleeping in a cemetery beside his father's grave since the father died last year.