Kumara murder accused named

Name suppression has been lifted on West Coast murder accused Tony John Harris and he has been released on bail to live on Waiheke Island, near Auckland.

Harris was granted bail when he appeared on remand before Judge Stephen Erber in Christchurch District Court this morning.

Harris, 55, is accused of the murder of Shane Douglas Bensemann, 42, at Kumara on September 7.

Defence counsel Jonathan Eaton said name suppression was no longer sought, after it was imposed at earlier court appearances in Greymouth and Christchurch. Name suppression for Mr Bensemann was also discontinued.

Mr Eaton said the three grounds on which the police had originally opposed bail were that the investigation was continuing, the house at Kumara was still being forensically examined, and the post mortem examination on Mr Bensemann had not been carried out. They had now been completed, he said.

Police have now agreed on the terms if Harris was to be released on bail.

Judge Erber remanded him to September 30 on condition that he live at a specified address on Waiheke Island and report to the police station on the island three times a week.

He is also not allowed to travel to the West Coast except as required to attend court.

- NZPA