Police have confirmed that one of the suspects in the Olive Walker murder case is a sex offender behind bars.
But the officer in charge of the case, Rotorua Detective Sergeant George Staunton, said the suspect was one of about 100 people being looked at by police.
The man's name was
offered to police after an identikit picture of the murderer was produced with the help of Sensing Murder psychic Deb Webber from Australia.
Mr Staunton said police had looked into the man's criminal history and found it was possible he could have raped and killed the Rotorua 18-year-old on May 15, 1970.
"Everyone thinks we have got just one suspect and that's not the case. That's just one avenue we are going down."
The suspect is to spend another few years behind bars on violence and sexual charges. Mr Staunton said police would look at linking the offender with DNA evidence but any progress in the case would come down to police resources. He said police hadn't had the time to devote to the case, especially with recent investigations such as Nia Glassie's death.
"It's time and resources. There are other cold cases we are investigating and the family knows that. As information comes through I tick away on it but any more than that is going to take a lot of manpower."
