KEY POINTS:
Police have eliminated a vehicle they were seeking in connection with the brutal murder of a woman in her Napier home in January.
Mother-of-four Chattrice Maihi-Carroll, 46, was found dead in her suburban Onekawa home on January 21.
She had been stabbed many times, and may also have been sexually assaulted.
Police had been seeking information on a green Toyota Estima people mover seen parked at the top of the driveway leading to the block of flats where Ms Maihi-Carroll lived.
However, Detective Inspector Sam Aberahama, who is leading the murder investigation, said police were now satisfied the vehicle was not involved with Mrs Maihi-Carroll's death and it had been eliminated from the investigation.
Mr Aberahama said about 25 people were working on the case at this stage, compared with 35 last month.
"The guys are working really hard. They're still out there interviewing members of the public."
He said he remained hopeful that the killer would be caught.
- NZPA
