Tauranga marae murder-accused's case adjourned

The man accused of murdering Ariana Mahu has appeared in the Tauranga High Court today.

The identity of 21-year-old man charged with the murder of Ariana Eva Mahu continues to be suppressed while a further report is sought in terms of his fitness to stand trial.

The defendant, who appeared in the Tauranga High Court today by audio-visual link from hospital, was granted continued interim name suppression by Justice Sarah Katz

Ariana Eva Mahu, 37, died at Tauranga Hospital after an alleged incident at Huria Marae in Judea on February 22.

Mahu allegedly suffered critical injuries to her neck.

The defendant's lawyer, Tony Balme, and Crown solicitor Anna Pollett sought the extension of name suppression on the basis of the contents of a recent psychiatric medical report.

Justice Katz agreed that was appropriate.

The report confirmed the accused was " very unwell" and needed further hospital treatment to see whether he could become well enough to stand trial, she said.

Justice Katz further remanded the defendant into the care of the Henry Bennett Centre in Hamilton to next appear in the Tauranga High Court on May 16 for a case review hearing.

She also called for a second psychiatric report to determine whether the accused was unfit to stand trial and whether he was insane under the true meaning of the Crimes Act.