Not guilty pleas in Ashburton manslaughter case
Four people have denied manslaughter charges arising from the May death of Ashburton man Arran Gairns and the case may be set for trial in the Timaru High Court next year.
The cases were all called before Justice David Gendall in the High Court at Christchurch today, for their second appearance, with two of the accused attending the Christchurch sitting and the other two appearing by video-link from the High Court in Timaru.
Justice Gendall remanded the four accused to a similar session in the High Court at Christchurch on November 11, for a case review hearing.
He said June 2015 had been suggested as a trial date but there were issues about availability and other commitments, so no firm date has yet been set.
Before the court were Desmond Kapi Marshall, 46, of Ashburton, Wellington woman Olivia Toby Frances Lucas, 26, Mayfield man Verdun Ashley Perry, 24, and Ashburton man Kooly Managki Te Tomo, 26.
All four pleaded not guilty to the charge of manslaughter. Marshall has already pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting Mr Gairns with intent to rob him, but the other three today denied that charge.
Mr Gairns was found dead in a drainage run-off area in Ashburton.
Category: News
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