Abduction accused's name suppression lifted

The High Court has lifted name suppression on Malcolm George Chaston, the man charged with a series of sex offences and abduction in Christchurch District Court last week.

Justice Lester Chisholm held, in a suppression appeal hearing, that the interests of a fair trial were not compromised by the interests of open justice in this case.

He lifted the interim suppression order after a hearing lasting nearly two hours, with almost all details of the hearing itself suppressed.

The submissions of defence counsel Kerry Cook and crown prosecutor Brent Stanaway cannot be published, and the judge's detailed reasons for dismissing the appeal are also suppressed.

Chaston was identified by police last week as being a person of interest in the inquiry into the disappearance of Vanessa Pickering whose body was later discovered on Godley Head near Christchurch.

He was brought to court on Thursday charged with assault with intent to commit sexual violation, sexual violation, unlawful detention, and assault on a child.

District Court Judge Michael Crosbie refused suppression but the duty solicitor immediately signalled the appeal to the High Court which was heard today.

A ban remains on publication of pictures of Chaston.

- NZPA