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Lois Tolley, 30, was murdered at her home on Ward St, Wallaceville, Upper Hutt, in December 2016. (File photo)
Two more people have been charged with murdering Upper Hutt’s wife, Lois Tolley, in 2016.
One person was charged in September 2019 with his murder.
Two others, one charged in December 2019 and the other charged in August 2020, had originally been charged with assault with the intent to rob and burglary.
The charges against the three 28-year-olds were filed Monday in Wellington Superior Court.
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Michael Daly / Things
Police monitor the scene at the LoisTolley apartment in Wallaceville, Upper Hutt, on December 10, 2016 (File photo).
The two most recent murder charges had not been filed when the charges were filed in court in the morning, but were included in documents filed with the court later that day.
Pleas of innocence had been presented to the charges as they were at the beginning of the day. Pleadings for the new murder charges are likely to be filed when the case goes to court in October.
None of the defendants were in court. Two appeared via audiovisual link while in custody, and the third was on bail and his attendance was excused.
All three have name suppression in the meantime, Judge Simon France said.
After the court hearing, the officer overseeing the investigation said that police were still looking for someone in connection with Tolley’s murder.
As time passed, more people had prepared to speak to police, Detective Inspector Scott Miller said.
The police knew that people in the community had information that could help and expected them to come forward.
Miller said the goal was for everyone involved to be present at the trial, scheduled for May 2021.
Kevin Stent / Stuff
Lois Tolley’s aunt, Lorraine Duffin, left, and Tolley’s mother, Cathrine MacDonald, at a press conference in 2016 (File photo).
Tolley’s mother, Cathrine MacDonald, lives in Australia, but was able to attend Monday’s court hearing through an audiovisual link.
She and Tolley’s father were glad the charges were improved.
They couldn’t thank the police team enough for all they had done and continued to do for their daughter, she said.
It would be good if people came to help with the investigation.
“They just need to think if this happened to their family and hell and torment their friends and family who are going through.”
Police have previously described Tolley’s death as an “execution.” She was found on the floor of her living room, shot and stabbed, on December 9, 2016.
Tolley was a chef for an event management company.
