Tauranga murder-accused named

Colin Richard Jeffries-Smith, 26, faced a murder charge when he appeared in the Tauranga District Court on January 5. Photo / File

By Sandra Conchie

The identity of a 26-year-old Gate Pa man accused of killing another man who died in Tauranga Hospital from critical injuries can be revealed.

Name suppression has lapsed for Colin Richard Jeffries-Smith who faced a murder charge when he appeared in the Tauranga District Court on January 5.

Jeffries-Smith has been accused of killing 58-year-old Lance Wayne Waite.

Police say Mr Waite was left at Tauranga Hospital emergency department about 12.20pm on January 3 with critical injuries and died a short time later despite efforts to save him.

Jeffries-Smith was arrested the following day at a home on Ngatai Road, Otumoetai.

He was remanded in custody by Judge Louis Bidois to next appear in the Rotorua High Court on February 7 when Jeffries-Smith would be expected to enter a plea to the charge.