KEY POINTS:
A 15-year-old girl and a 17-year-old woman have been been jointly charged with the murder of elderly Opotiki man John Rowe.
Mr Rowe, a 78-year-old retired teacher, was beaten to death in his home overnight on November 24.
The 17-year-old was arrested this afternoon in Auckland and Detective Inspector Rob Jones said she would face a murder charge in Auckland District Court tomorrow.
Soon afterwards, police arrested the 15-year-old from Opotiki, who faces the same charge in Tauranga Youth Court tomorrow.
A third person, a 21-year-old Opotiki man, was also arrested today and charged with being an accessory after the fact to the murder of Mr Rowe, and attempting to defeat the course of justice.
He was due in Whakatane District Court tomorrow .
Mr Jones told Radio New Zealand the sex and age of those arrested was shocking.
"It must be incredibly distressing both for the community and for the family of Mr Rowe."
Mr Jones said he was not able to discuss when or how police got the breakthrough they needed.
He said there was still a long way to go with the investigation and that police believed people who had information about the case had been stonewalling.
"I was frustrated and did comment that we believed there were close friends and family that were really protecting this group of people," he said.
Mr Jones said the case's high-profile may have put pressure on those people and assisted the investigation.
He said he was aware that Mr Jones' family were relieved at the news of arrests, but were also "deeply saddened".
- NZPA
