Police in bullet-proof vests for Tokoroa court appearance

Pollice lead the accused into the courthouse. The 23-year-old was granted name suppression until his appearance next week. Picture / Greg Bowker

Police were taking no chances when the man accused of murdering Lois Dear appeared in court yesterday.

Armed uniformed and plainclothes officers donned bullet-proof vests after an angry crowd turned up to get a glimpse of the 23-year-old unemployed man who allegedly killed the Tokoroa teacher.

"Bring the murderer out", "Give him the rope", two men in the crowd yelled. Others said he would be "dealt to" in jail.

Detective Inspector Garth Bryan said armed police patrolled the streets and the Tokoroa District Courthouse because they had received threats against the suspect.

"We are well aware of the depth of feeling within Tokoroa and some of the people who have been voicing that feeling have included people we decided posed some risk to the accused, so we ensured that nothing could go wrong."

The suspect, who was arrested on Monday night in Tokoroa, was granted interim name suppression until his next court appearance on Monday.

By 9am yesterday crowds had started to gather at the courthouse, positioning themselves behind a tall wire fence between the building's back entrance and the neighbouring police station.

Some said they were curious. "It happened in our town and apparently it was a local," one woman said.

But others in the small community were using the suspect's name.

Police also drove around the streets, a rifle visible in one car, and South Waikato District Mayor Neil Sinclair urged those gathered to be calm.

Standing on the back of a ute, he said the murder was an "incomprehensible act of violence" that had left people bitter.

"But let's make quite certain that we still keep the values that Lois had and don't let violence breed more violence."

At 10.15am, several detectives appeared in the courtyard beyond the wire fence and the suspect appeared.

He was handcuffed to an officer and covered from head to toe in a white prison suit, only his eyes and hands visible.

The crowd had grown to more than 150 and they erupted with yells. "Shame on your family, bro," one man shouted.

Only 30 people were allowed into the public gallery amid tight security.

As the suspect was led into the dock, one of his female relatives yelled, "You stupid ****", and began sobbing loudly.

The man's hood had been pulled back and he stood with his head bowed, glancing briefly at the large media contingent opposite before the two-minute appearance ended and he was led away.

Outside the court, his relatives expressed shock at his arrest and sympathy for Ms Dear and her family.

"We're very sorry for Lois," one of his aunts said. "We're crying today for her and for [name suppressed], being our boy."

The man was arrested after a weekend breakthrough in the case. Mr Bryan would not say what the breakthrough was or whether the suspect knew Ms Dear, but he did not rule out further arrests.

He said Ms Dear's wallet and credit cards had been found but her car keys were still missing.

The school and community is holding a memorial service for Ms Dear tomorrow at Tokoroa Apostolic Church.