A 30-year-old man charged with murdering a Christchurch woman this week was remanded in Christchurch District Court today for a psychiatric report.
Brian Ivan Edmund McCutcheon, who is listed on court documents as having an Adelaide address, was remanded in custody for a fortnight under section 38 2B of the Criminal Procedures Mentally Impaired Persons Act.
McCutcheon, a heavily-built man with closely cropped dark hair, was wearing a bright orange jumpsuit for his brief appearance in the dock. When he made his first appearance on Wednesday, he wore a three-quarter length short-sleeved white gown.
His lawyer, Michael Knowles, asked Judge Edward Ryan to grant McCutcheon interim suppression saying he realised his request was like "trying to catch a bolting horse". An application for name suppression had not been made on Wednesday.
Mr Knowles said publicity on the case to date had been "moderate and reasonable" and he sought interim suppression at least until the results of a psychiatric report were known.
Judge Ryan refused suppression saying such an order would be "flying in the face of reality".
McCutcheon is charged with murdering Ruth Cornelia Peoples at her Parklands suburb home on Tuesday January 3.
Judge Ryan had suppressed Ms Peoples' name on Wednesday to allow time for her family to be informed about the circumstances of her death, but lifted that order today saying the case was a matter of "legitimate and reasonable public interest".
Police prosecutor Sergeant Paul Brocas said he had received no further instructions on suppressing Ms Peoples' name.
McCutcheon was remanded in custody until January 20.
- NZPA
Murder accused remanded for psychiatric report
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