KEY POINTS:
A fifth person has appeared in court on a joint murder charge, three days after the murder trial of his co accused was abandoned.
The 24-year-old appeared in Manukau District Court today on a charge of murdering Riki Mafi, 17, in the Otara town centre in September 2, 2006. He was remanded until February 26 and his name was suppressed.
He was the fourth person to be charged after the trial of Jeffrey Key was abandoned in the High Court in Auckland on Tuesday.
The jury was discharged after the court was told the police had fresh evidence and wanted to determine if others might be involved in the killing, including some crown witnesses due to give evidence against Key.
One man was jointly charged with Key with the murder of Mr Mafi the day the trial was abandoned.
The four charged since the trial was abandoned were aged between 24 and 28, and were all remanded in custody to appear on February 26.
Earlier this week Key was remanded until February 27 for a callover date to set a date for a new trial.
- NZPA
