Family in court to support murder accused

Patrick Young arriving at court yesterday. Photo / Jason Dorday

A man accused of bashing his father's wife and murdering her brother got the backing of relatives as he appeared in court yesterday.

Patrick Young appeared before Manukau District Court charged with beating Arunee Jenkanying-Young and murdering Aran Jenkanying.

The 42-year-old had been on the run for eight days before being arrested on Friday night.

His 28-year-old girlfriend Ana Runanga Edmonds appeared with him facing a charge of helping him evade police. Young's mother, brother and other family members said they were standing by him and were relieved he had been arrested without incident.

"We're just relieved he is safe because we didn't know what was going to happen," his brother said. His mother said police had told them if Young was not caught soon or handed himself in, the manhunt could have ended in bloodshed.

"They said there could be a shootout or something. We're relieved he's been found but there's still a lot to come."

Young disappeared after the siblings were bashed with a stick in what police described as a "ferocious and persistent" attack.

It has been widely reported that the attack followed a dispute over an Otara property jointly owned by Jenkanying-Young and Young's late father.

Jenkanying-Young sustained serious head injuries but survived.

She is understood to be recovering in a hospital rehabilitation unit.

Her brother died a few days after the attack when his life support system was turned off.

Yesterday, after Young was remanded in prison to reappear on February 14, his brother shouted out: "We love you bro, be strong."

Another relative said: "Kia kaha."

Edmonds was remanded to reappear tomorrow to arrange a defence lawyer.