Name suppression continues in Chch murder case

Photo / Herald Online

Name suppression has been continued for a 29-year-old man charged with the murder of a woman in Christchurch earlier this month.

The Kaiapoi man made his second appearance in the District Court this morning charged with murder.

The man was charged after a woman's body was found by emergency services at a property in suburban Burwood about 10.15am on July 11.

At his last hearing, a psychiatrist's preliminary opinion relayed to the judge said that there should be "a justifiable inquiry to assess the availability of an insanity defence".

But a psychiatric report called for by Judge Robert Murfitt at his last hearing was not ready today and his lawyer Tony Greig asked for a further two-week period of remand at Hillmorton Hospital.

Mr Greig also asked for a sweeping suppression order, covering the name of his client, as well as the female victim, and all facts surrounding the case, to continue. His motion was not opposed by the police prosecutor.

Judge John Strettell remanded the man in custody until August 10, but said the issue of suppression would be "addressed in further detail" on that date.