Wallace in court on tourist murder charges

Michael Scott Wallace, the man charged with the kidnap and murder of German tourist Birgit Brauer, faces new charges.

He made his second brief appearance in New Plymouth District Court today, appearing in court for three minutes.

Wallace is now facing an additional four charges, bringing the total to 11. They relate to drink-driving offences in Blenheim, on April 29, and in Horowhenua on August 19.

Defence lawyer Turitea Bolstad had asked at his first appearance for a two-week remand in custody for a psychiatric examination.

That was extended by four weeks today.

Judge Louis Bidois asked Ms Bolstad whether she and Wallace had seen a copy of the report. She said they had received it but had not had time to go through it.

Wallace was wearing a green track suit, and did not speak during his time in the dock.

He will next appear on November 24.

The body of Ms Brauer, 28, was found dumped in bush at Lucy's Gully, near Oakura, 17km southwest of New Plymouth, on September 20.

The hunt for her killer became one of the country's most high profile cases in years.

Wallace was arrested on October 8 and formally charged with Ms Brauer's murder the next day.

His initial charges included kidnap, theft of the vehicle at the centre of the investigation - a Toyota Hilux - on August 19 and attempting to pervert the course of justice by providing a false name to police on August 19 after he had been stopped for drink-driving while in the Hilux.

The Hilux had not been reported stolen at that stage.

He was also charged with dishonestly taking another motor vehicle, valued at $5000, from Levin between October 1 and 2, and two charges of burglary of houses in Foxton and Himatangi between October 2 and 7.

- NZPA