Murder accused named in court

Photo / Supplied

A 26-year-old Wellington painter accused of the murder of Hutt Valley man Harold Skudder had his name suppression lifted when he reappeared in Lower Hutt District Court this morning.

Sean Dennis Brown of Miramar was further remanded in custody until next month.

Thirty-eight-year-old Mr Skudder disappeared from his home in 2008 and skeletal remains, believed to be his, were found in Upper Hutt on Friday.

Earlier today police said they were searching for a concrete cat.

Detective Inspector Shane Cotter said police found a similar cat at the Lower Hutt address where they found the skeleton of Harold Alamoti Taipa Skudder.

Mr Cotter said police have been told that there were a pair of concrete cats at the home but only one is there now.

He said it is too early to say if the cat is important to the investigation.

"The concrete cat may have been disposed of in secluded areas such as in bush, near walking trails, on the side of a roadway or at a rubbish tip. This may have occurred at any time over the last three years," Mr Cotter said.

The cat is made of concrete and is painted metallic gold with blue and red painted eyes. It stands approximately 50 cm high and weighs approximately 15kgs, he said.

Police found a skeleton, believed to belong to Mr Skudder, down a bank in Upper Hutt last week.

Mr Cotter said anyone with information about the missing cat or Harold Skudder's disappearance should call Lower Hutt Police on 560 2600 or leave information anonymously on the Crime Stoppers line, 0800 555 111.

- NZHERALD STAFF