By TONY WALL
About a dozen police are still investigating aspects of the Kylie Jones murder case, including whether Taffy Hotene acted alone when he stabbed the young journalist in a Glen Innes reserve on June 6.
Police say the evidence to date points to just one offender, but they are checking the alibis of Hotene's associates to make sure none was involved directly, or as accessories before or after the fact.
The officer in charge of the case, Detective Senior Sergeant Stu Allsopp-Smith, said Hotene had changed his story at least twice.
"First he said he was on his own, then later he said someone else was with him, then it was back to being on his own ... I believe Taffy Hotene was the main offender for the murder ... and he's always acted alone in the past."
The detective said Hotene might have been trying to displace liability by suggesting he had help.
"You are not dealing with a normal Joe Blow member of society here."
Detective Senior Sergeant Allsopp-Smith confirmed that police had cleared Hotene's brother George, who later that evening was handed the butcher's knife, used to stab Miss Jones, for "safekeeping."
The knife went back into "general usage" and was later recovered by police at a Glen Innes address.
Police were also gathering background information on Hotene, including obtaining Corrections Department files to back up crown submissions at sentencing next month, Detective Senior Sergeant Allsopp-Smith said.
It is understood the Crown will seek preventive detention for the convicted rapist, which would keep him behind bars indefinitely.
Police check alibis of Hotene's friends
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