Tokoroa locals are questioning why name suppression has been handed to the man charged with murdering Lois Dear.

A 23-year-old man appeared in the Tokoroa District Court yesterday, charged with killing the new entrant teacher nine days ago.

A crowd of around 200 people gathered outside the court, yelling abuse at the accused and surging against a fence that separated them from the defendant. Radio Network Broadcaster John Dryden reports detectives were obviously concerned as they walked the man into court.

The accused was clad in a white boiler suit which covered all but his eyes. He entered no plea to the murder charge and was remanded back into custody with interim name suppression.

Many locals voiced their disgust outside court following the appearance, saying name suppression was an absolute joke. They are arguing that so many people in Tokoroa know who the accused is and that the wider public is entitled to know too.

The accused will reappear in the Tokoroa District Court next Monday.