Liam Ashley killer in court over threat

A prisoner charged with threatening to kill a fellow inmate was today remanded to reappear in an Auckland court for a committal date in November.

George Charlie Baker, 28, made a brief appearance in North Shore District Court to face three charges.

They relate to an incident in Auckland Prison at Paremoremo on August 27.

Baker is alleged to have kidnapped a fellow prisoner and threatened to kill him.

He also faces a count that, while assaulting the other man, he had with him a hand-made stabbing device and two razor blades in circumstances that showed an intention to use them.

Baker was remanded until November 20.

Defence lawyer Tony Bouchier initially made an application for suppression of details that were not brought up in court.

He said he was concerned about material being leaked to the media, adding that his client had told him the first Baker knew he would be facing charges was when he heard the news on the radio.

But Mr Bouchier withdrew the application when Judge David Harvey said he understood suppression orders related only to what happened in court.

The judge also said the sub judice rule, which regulates what can be published about matters before the court, applied.

- NZPA