Police still piecing together slain tourist's movements

The jacket and pack that belonged to Czech tourist Dasha Pytlickova. Photo / supplied

Photos of the jacket and backpack worn by the Czech tourist who was sexually assaulted and killed while hitch-hiking in the South Island have been released by police seeking to confirm her final movements.

Police revealed yesterday that Dagmar Pytlickova, 31, known as Dasha, was probably sexually assaulted in "some form'' before her throat was cut by Jason Frandi at the weekend.

Frandi, 43, from Waimate, was being sought by police over a sex offence complaint when he left town in his silver BMW and is thought to have picked up Miss Pytlickova and driven her to a remote forest area.

His body was found near hers with what police say are self-inflicted wounds to his wrist.

Miss Pytlickova had been in New Zealand since January and working at a vineyard in Cromwell, Central Otago.

Today Detective Senior Sergeant Marion Neill said police inquiries were focused on trying to establish Miss Pytlickova's movements after she left Cromwell on Saturday afternoon.

"On Saturday we believe that she left Cromwell around 2pm, and was intending to hitch hike to the Timaru area.

"It's likely she was in Omarama area by around 4pm, and in the Kurow area possibly by 4.45pm or 5pm. However we still wish to keep this timespan as open as possible,'' Ms Neill said.

Police were especially keen to hear from anyone who gave her a lift on Saturday.

Miss Pytlickova's body was today released to funeral directors on behalf of her family.