Outcry as accused killer gets name suppression

A group of women protested loudly in Christchurch District Court today as an accused killer was granted name suppression.

The 29-year-old unemployed Christchurch man made a brief appearance charged with kidnapping, raping and murdering a prostitute whose body with hands bound was found dumped in the Avon River on Thursday.

An outcry erupted at the rear of the court's public gallery after the accused was led from the dock with one woman shouting: "We'll wait for ya!"

The stocky, heavily-built man with closely cropped hair who was wearing a red rugby shirt leaned on the front of the dock staring at the floor of the court as duty solicitor Bridget Ayrey sought name suppression and a remand for a psychiatric assessment.

Police prosecutor Vanessa Sugrue supported the application for suppression, saying the police homicide investigation was continuing and publication of the man's name could hinder inquiries.

Ms Sugrue also asked Justices of the Peace Nick Atkins and Tom Gregg to suppress the name of the 24-year-old victim, saying the woman's family was still coming to terms with the circumstances of her death.

Mr Atkins and Mr Gregg remanded the man in custody until December 29 and ordered a psychiatric report. They also suppressed the prostitute's name "until further notice".

The man's arrest followed a horrendous attack on the woman in the central city carpark of the Christchurch Squash Club about 12.30am on Thursday.

Witnesses described hearing the woman plead for her life as she was run over repeatedly by a car, then dragged into the vehicle and driven away.

The incident sparked a huge police hunt for the woman and a white Honda car that was believed to be involved.

The woman's semi-naked body was found in the Avon River about 3pm on Thursday, lying in mud on her back with her wrists bound in front of her and her head submerged under water.

The site where her body was found is about five minutes' drive from the carpark where she was attacked.

Police said when they announced the man's arrest yesterday that the woman's injuries were consistent with being struck by a vehicle. She was believed to have been dead when she was dumped in the river.

Her murder was the second involving a prostitute in Christchurch in eight months.

- NZPA