Name suppression continues in Jack Nicholas case

Jack Nicholas

Name suppression was continued today for the man charged in connection with the point-blank shooting of Hawke's Bay farmer Jack Nicholas.

The 49-year-old man was arrested and charged last week with perverting the course of justice. He allegedly procured a woman to make a false statement to police during inquiries into the murder.

Judge Jeff Rae in Napier District Court today told prosecutor Jonathan Krebs the police stance of neither opposing nor supporting continued name suppression was "woosey".

He said he had decided to hear defence lawyer Leo Lafferty's reasons for continued name suppression in private.

Judge Rae later told the packed court that intense media interest in the case and defence counsel awaiting documents from the crown before taking instructions from the defendant were good enough reasons to continue suppression.

He remanded the man in custody until May 3, when "it will take some considerable persuasion to continue [suppression] beyond that".

The Crown indicated it would also seek an end to the order on that date.

The man was arrested last week amid a flurry of activity that saw police search several properties in the seaside settlement of Haumoana, near Napier, seize several vehicles, and conduct a search of the nearby Tukituki riverbank for evidence.

Mr Nicholas was shot dead at the gate of his remote farm at Puketitiri, northwest of Napier, on August 27, 2004.

- NZPA