Suppression continues to September for child murder accused
Continued name suppression has been refused by the High Court for the 22-year-old man charged with the murder of 14-month-old Ihaka Paora Braxton Stokes but the interim order will stay in place until mid-September.
Justice David Gendall issued his reserved decision today (subs Wednesday) after hearing legal argument in the High Court at Christchurch last week.
He has ruled against suppression that has been in place for the Christchurch man since his arrest in mid-July. The grounds for the suppression, which was granted in the District Court and then extended in the High Court, may not be published.
But he has also said that the suppression will remain in place until 5pm on September 15 when the appeal period expires. By that date, if defence counsel Phil Shamy has filed an appeal to the Court of Appeal, the suppression will continue until a further decision is made.
The man had also appealed for release on bail while on remand but Justice Gendall has not yet made his ruling on that and the man remains in custody.
He is charged with assaulting the boy on July 2, and murdering him the next day. He denies the charges and is remanded for a case review in the High Court on October 2.
Category: Focus
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