Family plan funeral for murdered son

Javed Mills. Photo / Supplied

The family of murder victim Javed Mills are planning his funeral, despite not knowing when his remains will be returned to them.

Mr Mills' remains were found in the garage of an abandoned Mt Wellington property in September. He was last seen by his family in April 2009 and police believe he died as the result of an altercation at the end of July 2009.

James Grant Cooper, 24, has been charged with murdering Mr Mills and covering up his death. Cooper allegedly posed as Mr Mills, sending messages online to the dead man's brother in a bid to make it appear he was alive and living in Wellington.

Cooper appeared in the Auckland District Court yesterday via audio visual link from Mt Eden Prison. It was his third appearance, and he is yet to enter a plea to either charge.

Mr Mills' family were not in court. It is understood they have started planning a funeral, but a date could not be settled until his remains were returned to them.

Police are still working to locate the missing parts of Mr Mills' skeleton.

Last month his mother, Lichelle Mills, said she did not mind how long it took for her son to be returned to her - as long as it happened eventually.

On a Facebook tribute page set up by Mr Mills' brother, he revealed that memorial patches were being made. "Some funeral arrangements have been in talks but we still don't know when we will get him back home. We've ordered some memorial patches. Will post them up soon for you to see," he wrote.

"Also if you guys have any ideas for the funeral, feel free to share - any music, etc. And if anyone would like to speak on the day just let us know - we would actually really appreciate it ... we want to make the day a 'celebration of his life'."

In court yesterday Cooper's lawyer, Mina Wharepouri, reiterated that his client intended to plead guilty as soon as possible to the charge relating to the cover-up of Mr Mills' death.

At an earlier court appearance, Mr Wharepouri said Mr Mills' death was an "unforeseeable unintended event which was caused by the victim's loss of control and violence". Cooper would plead not guilty to the murder charge as he was acting in self-defence, the court heard.

Judge Lawrence Hinton yesterday remanded Cooper in custody until his next appearance at a post-committal conference, also via audio visual link, on August 23.

He declined media applications to photograph Cooper in court, saying doing so could affect his right to a fair trial.

He also refused to allow access to the police summary of facts, which outlines the charges against Cooper and has been filed in court.