KEY POINTS:
A man has pleaded guilty to the murder of convicted paedophile Glen Stinson last July at Foxton.
Bruce Tamatea, 46, made the plea as he was arraigned before Justice John Wild at the High Court in Palmerston North, the Manawatu Standard reports.
Tamatea's co-accused, Aubrey Harrison, and a 31-year-old woman who has interim name suppression, will stand trial in Palmerston North on September 1.
Both have pleaded not guilty to murder.Tamatea was remanded in custody for sentencing. A date would be fixed following the outcome of the trial of the other accused.
It was better that those convicted would be sentenced by the same judge at the same time, Justice Wild said. But Tamatea's lawyer, Fergus Steedman, was granted leave to apply for a sentencing date to be brought forward.
Justice Wild said he had concerns that a sentencing before the trial could jeopardise the right to a fair trial for the remaining two accused because information about the case would be in the public arena.
"Judges don't like suppressing information. It's against the principles of open justice."
Stinson was beaten to death and dumped outside a Foxton poultry farm on July 27.
The 57-year-old had a history of sex offences against young girls dating back to 1967.
- NZPA
