A 14-year-old Taupo boy has appeared in court as police criticised "incorrect and mischievous" reports that his appearance was related to Scottish tourist Karen Aim's death.
The 14-year-old made no application for bail when he appeared in the Rotorua Youth Court yesterday.
The boy is charged with attacking a 17-year-old girl as she was walked home in the early hours of January 5, allegedly striking her over the head 12 times with a jagged rock.
He entered no plea to charges of wounding with intent and aggravated assault and was further remanded in custody to a youth justice facility.
Earlier in the day, police investigating the death of 26-year-old Ms Aim said radio reports that the boy's court appearance was in relation to Ms Aim's death were "speculative" and "damaging to the enquiry".
