Wellington murder accused remanded

File photo / Bay of Plenty Times

Two young Wellington men charged jointly with the murder of a middle-aged father nearly a year ago have been further remanded in custody.

Etuina Sipili, 45, was admitted to Wellington Hospital last October with serious head injuries and remained in a coma for seven months, until he died in May. He never regained consciousness.

Fred John Pokoati, 22, and Jarrad Clarence Townley, 23, both unemployed, were charged initially with assaulting Mr Sipili overnight last October 4 in the Wellington suburb of Te Aro.

The counts were upgraded to murder and name suppression for the pair was lifted on July 1.

Pokoati and Townley stood subdued in the dock at Wellington District Court today as Judge Oke Blaikie sent them back behind bars to await the outcome of a post-committal conference on September 2.

The accused are not required to attend on that day.

The public gallery was crowded - but silent - during today's brief appearance.

- NZPA