Mangere toddler shooting: Name suppression bid fails

Auckland High Court. Photo / Nick Reed

A man charged in relation to the fatal shooting of a South Auckland toddler has lost a bid for name suppression.

His identity can be revealed next Wednesday morning.

He was charged with manslaughter after the 2-year-old girl was shot dead in the driveway of her family home in Mangere on June 2.

Her name is also suppressed but can be revealed next week.

The man is also facing charges of unlawful possession of a pistol and possession of cannabis for supply.

He appeared in the High Court at Auckland today and applied through his lawyer Sam Fernando to have the suppression order extended.

Fernando said the man and his family would face "alienation and ridicule" if his name and the details of the alleged manslaughter were made public.

He said the man's partner feared her community would reject her if they knew about the charges.

Justice Graham Lang declined the application, saying there was no strong evidence that naming the man would affect his right to a fair trial or cause him or his partner and family any significant hardship.

He said suppression would be lifted next Wednesday, giving the man and his partner a week to inform relevant people about the charges.

The man will reappear in court next month.