It was the first time Bailey Ashley had made eye contact with the man accused of killing her brother Liam.
And the 25-year-old defendant, who has interim name suppression, made sure he did not go unnoticed - he gave her the finger. Handcuffed to one security guard and flanked by two others during a court appearance, the defendant used his free hand to make the gesture after turning around and looking in her direction.
"He's a grandstander," she said after the hearing. "He doesn't scare me, he doesn't intimidate me at all. He doesn't threaten me."
The accused is alleged to have murdered Liam, 17, in the back of a Chubb Security-operated prison van that had been transporting them from North Shore District Court to Auckland Central Remand Prison.
The accused had also upset the Ashley family at a previous court appearance when he wore a T-shirt saying, "Keep your eye on the rising star of crime ... Serial killers normally work alone". Asked whether any of the defendant's actions frightened her, Bailey, also 25, replied, "Hell, no".
During yesterday's pre-trial appearance in Auckland District Court the defendant vowed not to be represented by anyone but himself.
He indicated he was ready to enter a plea to the murder charge facing him but was remanded in custody for another week by Judge John Hole to consider his "serious situation".
Judge Hole also ordered the suppression of all statements made by the accused in court yesterday "in relation to his culpability or otherwise".
Defence lawyer Charl Hirschfeld sought leave to withdraw from the case after the defendant refused his services.
"I asked to represent myself, I don't want a lawyer," the man said, after Mr Hirschfeld left the courtroom. "No way I'll be talking to a lawyer. I refuse to see them when they come to the jail."
He answered in the affirmative to a series of questions put to him by Judge Hole, including whether he was aware of the nature of the charge facing him and whether he was refusing legal aid.
Even so, the judge said he should be given time to consider his position, and remanded him to reappear next Friday.
Accused gives fingers to slain teen inmate's sister
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.