Accused named in Papatoetoe case

A Rotorua man accused of murdering a woman in her Papatoetoe home on November 19 is Stephen Rukuata, a 24-year-old car groomer.

He is charged with the murder of Bianca Nicole Stewart, 20. The mother of two was found dead in her Malaspina Place flat by neighbours.

Name suppression for Rukuata and Ms Stewart lapsed this week. Rukuata is due back in court in January.