Boy denies murdering Liberty Templeman

Liberty Templeman. Photo / Supplied

The mother of slain schoolgirl Liberty Templeman stared intently at the teenager accused of her murder when he appeared in court yesterday.

The 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named because of Youth Court suppression orders, appeared before Justices of the Peace Rod Langwell and Murray Jenkin Court where he denied for the first time two charges relating to Liberty's death.

The boy is accused of murdering and indecently assaulting Liberty, a promising drama student, on November 1 last year. Police have not revealed how she died.

Liberty's parents, Andrew and Rebecca Templeman, sat through the short court appearance yesterday.

Mrs Templeman was clutching her husband's hand and when the boy appeared in the dock, she leaned forward.

She stared intently at him throughout the appearance, not looking away until he walked from the dock.

Crown prosecutor Michael Smith presented the court with 38 witness statements and 23 exhibits which were handed up to the court.

The Herald applied for permission to view this evidence but was refused. The court gave no reason for the rejection.

The accused, a tall boy dressed in a black patterned shirt and jeans, stood with his left hand clutching his right index finger throughout the appearance.

He acknowledged that he understood the proceedings when asked by Mr Jenkin but showed no sign of emotion.

His defence counsel, Catherine Cull, conceded there was a case to answer.

Ms Cull said the boy denied both charges but made no application for bail.

Mr Jenkin remanded the boy back into custody in a youth facility in Auckland, where he will remain until June 18, when he will appear in the High Court at Whangarei for a trial callover.

The boy's parents sat immediately behind the Templemans in the small courtroom. They did not wish to comment when approached outside the court.

The Templemans also did not wish to comment.