Two refuse to give DNA samples in Marton homicide inquiry

Two people have refused to give DNA samples to police investigating the slaying of Marton pensioner Mona Morriss, police say.

The 83-year-old grandmother was found dead in her Wellington Rd flat on January 5 and was last seen shopping in a supermarket two days earlier.

"We now have to look at other ways of getting the samples or gaining the information we need," said Detective Sergeant Tim Smith, the officer heading the investigation.

Police will also be considering reasons the two people could have for their refusal, he said.

During the past few days, police have received about 100 new pieces of information after 66 recruits delivered a questionnaire to 2200 homes in Marton on Sunday and Monday.

One of the questions, which asked whether the "house occupier" knew of anyone who might have committed the homicide, had identified several new "persons of interest", he said.

Two knives were handed in and the recruits also spoke to two residents who had seen people acting suspiciously around the flats during the time Mrs Morriss was killed.

Mr Smith said he was encouraged by the new information uncovered by the recruits.

As a result, police had more leads to work on and the investigation team remained positive about solving the case.

Police remained open-minded on most issues, he said.

But he said he was fairly certain the killer knew the Marton area well and used that knowledge to select a target.

He would not rule out the possibility Mrs Morriss knew her killer, either.

Asked how much credence was being given to a report that a neighbour might have heard the killer taking a shower in Mrs Morriss' flat, Mr Smith said police had reached no conclusions.

While it was "quite possible" water was heard running inside the flat, there was nothing to indicate it was the killer taking a shower.

With the arrival of four officers from New Plymouth and two from Palmerston North next Monday, the investigation team will be brought back to its full strength of between 23 and 25 officers.

- NZPA