Blessie case: Murder-accused's name suppressed

Flowers are placed at the entrance to Inwards Reserve on Salisbury Street for Blessie Gotingco. Photo / NZ Herald

The man accused of killing Auckland woman Blessie Gotingco has appeared in court this morning.

He stood in the dock of North Shore District Court, facing away from the public gallery and towards a wall, with his arms folded across his body. He was wearing a blue boiler suit.

Read more of the Herald's coverage of the Blessie case this morning:
Death of Blessie: Inside the arrest

Media packed in to the courtroom where the man is appearing, charged with murder, before Judge Philippa Sinclair.

He was arrested just after the 56-year-old mother-of-three's body was found yesterday in an area of bush at the Birkenhead-Glenfield cemetery on Eskdale Rd.

After hearing submissions from the man's lawyer and the media, Judge Sinclair granted name and image suppression, saying a fair trial could be jeopardised otherwise.

The accused did not apply for bail and he was remanded in custody to reappear in the High Court on June 18.

The public gallery at North Shore District Court was full.

Court staff said people interested in the case had waited for almost two hours to see the man who then appeared in court for only around 10 minutes.

Judge Sinclair acknowledged the high interest from the public in the case when giving her order for name suppression.