Room where teacher bashed 'should be removed'

Police said the school would be ready to open on Wednesday. Picture / Alan Gibson

The principal of the Tokoroa school where teacher Lois Dear was murdered says he would like to see the classroom she died in removed.

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

She had suffered head injuries and police are awaiting results of an autopsy being done in Auckland today to determine whether a weapon was involved.

Teachers and parents involved with the 280-pupil school this morning met at the local St Luke's Community Centre.

Afterwards, principal Murray Kendrick said many people would be apprehensive about the classroom in question being used to teach in again and would be happy to see it go.

"If I was a teacher in that room I would feel a bit spooky about it, I'm sorry. And I suspect our parents would feel a bit uncomfortable with having their children in that room as well with what has gone on," he told National Radio.

A relief teacher has been appointed to fill in for Ms Dear and investigation head Detective Inspector Garth Bryan said the school would be ready to reopen tomorrow following scene investigations.

Police investigating the case have also been focusing on the discovery of Ms Dear's blue Toyota Corolla car, found behind a church in Tokoroa after it was taken from the school on Sunday.

"In particular, we want to hear about sightings of that vehicle, who may have been driving it and who may have dumped it behind the church."

Mr Bryan said the car was being examined today and police were keen to see what was revealed.

He said police were continuing to talk to locals and were keen to hear from anyone who may have information that could relate to the case.

- NZPA