Inmate on murder charge seeks suppression

A 28-year-old man charged with stabbing and murdering a fellow Hawkes Bay regional prison inmate is fighting to keep his name suppressed.

The man was granted interim name suppression pending an appeal when he appeared in Hastings District Court yesterday. He entered no plea to the charge of murdering Sonny John Keremete.

His lawyer, Rebecca Guthrie, asked that her client be granted name suppression and suppression of any identifying features because of concerns for his safety and that of his family. She added that without suppression her client would not receive a fair trial.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Fred van Duuren said police did not oppose him being granted name suppression until he next appeared in court.

Judge Geoff Rea said the reasons for name suppression were not sufficient and he would decline the application.

Ms Guthrie said they would be appealing the decision at the High Court and asked that they be given suppression until a High Court judge ruled on it.

Judge Rea granted interim name suppression until 5pm on Friday to give the prisoner's lawyers an opportunity to do this. "They can make sure that he's in a safe place by moving him from one prison to another," he said.

The man was remanded in custody for three weeks and will reappear in Hastings District Court on April 27.

- NZPA