Man charged over JJ's death remanded until March

Two year-old JJ Ruhe Lawrence of Takitimu St, Orakei, died a violent death. Photo / Supplied

The lawyer for the man charged with the murder of two-year-old James Joseph `JJ' Ruhe Lawrence says there are many contentious issues on his client's court file.

Mangere man Joel Loffley, 29, appeared at the Auckland District Court today and was remanded in custody until March.

His lawyer Roger Chambers said he and police will need to sit down and go through the file before it can be released to the media.

Mr Chambers said he did not have formal briefs of evidence from the police yet.

Loffley was remanded in custody by consent.

James Joseph died on November 14 at his Orakei home where he lived with his mother and her boyfriend.

Police at the time said that he died from injuries resulting from blunt-force trauma to his abdomen.