Murder accused to stay in custody

The accused man is due to appear in court today.

Updated: A 21-year-old man charged with murder following the death of a Tauranga woman will stay behind bars until his next court appearance.

The man, who has interim name suppresion, appeared before Judge Christoper Harding in Tauranga District Court today.

He has been remanded for a psychiatric report to assess his fitness to make a plea and stand trial.

A plea for interim name suppression by assigned counsel Tony Balme succeeded 'by a thin margin' says the Judge.

The murder took place before a large number of people to whom the accused is already known, but the judge says there area still a large number of people who do not know who the accused is.

The accused is yet to enter a plea and will next appear in court on March 7.

EARLIER:

A 21-year-old man has been charged in relation to the death of a woman in Tauranga overnight.

The woman died after suffering critical injuries during an altercation at Huria Marae overnight.

Police say the 37-year-old was taken to Tauranga Hospital in a critical condition, where she later died.

"Police were called to a local marae at 11.50pm," says Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Barron.

"The woman has suffered injuries to her neck and was transported to hospital. She died from her injuries a short time later."

The murder accused is due to appear in Tauranga District Court this morning.

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1 comment

Disgraceful events

Posted on 23-02-2018 12:14 | By Bill Gibson-Patmore

What a disgraceful turn of events, when local and distant folk of many ethnicities have gathered at Huria (Judea) Marae to mourn and respect the passing of one of this areas greatest Kaumatua, Dr Ngatoko Rahipere. ... My thoughts and prayers also go to the family of the young lady whose life has been taken in such tragic circumstances.


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