Case cracked?

Press, 24 March 1988, Page 2

Case cracked?

Overseas forensic testing of hair samples in the Maureen McKinr nel murder inquiry had yielded encouraging results, said the man heading the inquiry, Detective ; Sergeant [ Brian Hewett,: yesterday. Detective Sergeant Hewett! hinted that the police were closing : in on the I killer of Miss McKinriel, aged [3B, whose naked I. and strangled 1 body [ was dumped from the [Arrow River bridge late last year- ; -I . j | . , The police have three suspects for the kill--

ing- i“There is a lot of work to be done in respect of | exhibits recovered from the scene, the 'body, rind some, of the suspects,” he said. “Work will continue with D.5.1.-R. scientists and hundreds of exhibits have yet to! be gone through.” j ; He confirmed that hair samples! were being analysed lin Adelaide,; Australia. Results were not expected for several! months. “In the] meantime, preliriiinary reports

from scientific! staff have been encouraging. “We are [confident that the inquiry will be concluded successfully.”: “That is through the forensic testing. It could be some time away.” Meanwhile, ; the inquiry team, which peaked at more than 50 early lin January,is being reduced; further. , The 11-member tearrii is being |cut to| four and[ the inquiry base will be! moved at Easter from! Arrowtown to the Queenstown Police Station.