Baseball-bat murder accused remanded in custody

Relatives of a teenager fatally bashed with a baseball bat in South Auckland were in court yesterday as a man charged with his murder was remanded in custody.

Jeffrey Alailima Key, 24, a labourer, made a brief appearance in Manukau District Court and was remanded until next Monday.

He is charged with murdering Riki Harry Mafi, 17, who died last Tuesday after being bashed in Otara town centre three days earlier.

Four other people were arrested last week and charged with assaulting Mafi.

Three of those reappeared in court yesterday and had the assault charge against them withdrawn but they still face other unrelated charges.

The fourth remains charged with assault and is due back in court tomorrow.