Detectives investigating the death of a young Scottish tourist in Taupo are concerned the arrest of a youth over an apparently unrelated incident will lead to the flow of information from the public drying up.
Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Turner told journalists today that media speculation that the
arrest was linked to the Karen Aim homicide inquiry was damaging.
Ms Aim, 26, was found in a pool of blood on a street corner near Taupo Nui-a-Tia College by police investigating vandalism at the school in the early hours of January 17.
They have not ruled out the two incidents being linked.
The Operation Waikato team has also been investigating other crime which may have possible links, including about 10 assaults reported since January 1.
A 14-year-old Taupo youth appeared this afternoon in Palmerston North Youth Court and was remanded into the care of the Child, Youth and Family Service.
He will spend the night in Auckland and reappear tomorrow in Rotorua Youth Court.
There was a heavy police presence during his three-minute appearance, with officers outnumbering his family and members of the news media.
While no details relating to the charges were given, it was believed they arose from an incident in the vicinity of Taupo's other state secondary school, Tauhara College, on January 5.
That school is at the southern end of town, some distance from where Ms Aim died.
Mr Turner appealed for Taupo residents to continue their flow of information.
"We'd like to hear from anyone who was awake or about the vicinity (of Waikato St) on either Wednesday night or Thursday morning," he said.
He would also appreciate if residents would check around their sections for any "foreign" objects such as any weapon or any item which could have been used in the vandalism at the college.
"We would also like to know about any items of clothing discarded anywhere."
Police were not looking for clothing belonging to Ms Aim, Mr Turner said.
- NZPA
