Oamaru murder: Fourth arrest, made on bus

Justin Conrad McFarlane's 1992 Mitsubishi GTO two-door red sedan car was found extensively burnt. Photo / Rebecca Ryan

A fourth person has been arrested in relation to the murder of Otago dairy worker Justin McFarlane.

A 22-year-old was arrested late yesterday afternoon after police intercepted a bus travelling from Dunedin to Oamaru following a tipoff he would be onboard.

The man was taken in for questioning and will appear before Dunedin District Court today.

It follows the arrest yesterday of a 23-year-old Oamaru man, and the previous arrests of a 22-year-old Oamaru farmhand, who has interim name suppression, and 18-year-old Steven Kenneth Boskell from Palmerston.

Acting Detective Inspector Colin Blackie said police were speaking to a fifth person to assess their "potential involvement'' in the incident.

Mr McFarlane, 35, was found dead on the Elderslie farm where he worked in the early hours of Wednesday last week.

A scene examination at his Pine Hill Rd house will be completed today.

The forensic examination of a Nissan Skyline car has also been completed.

A number of other scenes are still being examined as part of the investigation, Mr Blackie said.

The senior officer said the investigation team had been hindered by people thought to have helped the suspects evade detection or destroy evidence.

But he thanked members of the public for "good information''.

Mr Blackie said people who may have helped protect the accused are likely to be the focus of further inquiries.

Yesterday a 52-year-old Oamaru woman was arrested and charged with being an accessory after the fact in relation to Mr McFarlane's murder. She is due to appear in the Dunedin District Court later this week.