KEY POINTS:
A 15-year-old boy has been sent to trial for the murder of Scottish tourist Karen Aim.
Ms Aim was bludgeoned to death in Taupo in January.
The accused teenager's name is suppressed because of his age.
He was 14 when Ms Aim was found dead.
After a three day depositions hearing, a judge at the Taupo Youth Court has determined there is enough evidence for him to stand trial.
The teenager has pleaded not guilty and will remain in custody until his next court appearance in October.
In court today is was revealed that, within an hour of police finding Miss Aim's body, the name of the boy now accused of her killing had been raised in connection with the crime.
The revelation came while Constable Matthew Barton was giving evidence at a depositions hearing in Taupo Youth Court.
Mr Barton found the badly beaten 26-year-old Ms Aim lying in the street after being called out to investigate a vandalism spree at Taupo Nui a Tia College on January 17.
He outlined how arrived at the college, then drove around the streets on its perimeter.
He spotted Miss Aim lying on the footpath at the corner of Waikato and Motutahae Streets, just metres from her flat.
He alerted the police communications centre and senior police officers and called for an ambulance for Ms Aim.
Two ambulances arrived at the scene and one took her to Taupo Hospital, but he learned that she died shortly afterwards.
Defence counsel Bill Lawson, in cross-examination, asked Mr Barton whether he had subsequently spoken to the CIB officer who took over control of the scene.
The witness said he had and when asked, had given the officer the youth's address.
He said he could not remember the exact time and asked if he could check his job sheet.
After doing so, he told Mr Watson it was at 3,15am.
"So, within about an hour of the discovery of Miss Aim's body?" Mr Lawson asked.
"Yes" Mr Barton replied.
The accused will stand trial in the High Court of Rotorua.
- NZPA
