IMO - Not for me, I’m using the reasoning that if LE believe PS acted alone, then they’re also of the belief that PS & PS alone threw the phone where it was found. For all we know, they may even have PS’s fingerprints on the phone. We just don’t know. So I’m currently believing what LE have said, whether what they’ve said regarding they believe that PS was acting alone is true or not, we’ll not find out until later. Granted, I have seen in one investigation (In America) where LE lied to the public regarding a certain flatmate & where her room was located in a particular house so I am aware they’re not always honest with the public, I just can’t think of where I’ve seen Australian LE deliberately mislead the public. MOO
The police don't have to be honest with the public, If they are close to cracking a case and have others under suspicion, who then know what the police are up to.
The police will only say what they want getting out to the public, nothing more. They keep all information close to their chests
The facts are that we have not been told if the accused actually put the phone in the dam, so really we can't say for certain that he did, as no statement has come out from police
The police might have said he acted alone earlier in the piece, but they could also have others under intelligence to keep a track on them and gather evidence, but so much more new information has come forth, including witnesses, CCTV etc since the beginning. The police might have linked his phone to Samantha at Mt Clear, but we don't know If there were others in that area, who didn't have mobile phones, so couldn't be traced.
And now they have found her phone, so there will be new evidence on board. If the police can't link the accused to her phone then someone else has put it in there, this will also be important for his defence team, especially If the phone has only recently been placed there, when the accused has been in prison
We will know a lot more soon