Morris death: Accused subjected to online threats

Millie Elder-Holmes and Connor Morris. Photo / File

The man accused of murdering Connor Morris has been subjected to online threats since his name was made public.

West Auckland man Michael Murray, 33, has been charged with the murder of Mr Morris who suffered a fatal head injury during a confrontation outside a party on August 3.

Yesterday he was able to be named for the first time after a bid to keep his name suppressed was abandoned, and the suppression lapsed.

The release of Murray's name has prompted more than 700 comments, many of them threats, on the Facebook page, R.I.P Connor Morris.

One user commented that Murray was "88's new target", and another commented "very much a dead man walking".

Another said: "Dead man walking, you don't f*** with the 88s or any gang".

Mr Morris was known to have affiliations with the Head Hunters, and his tangi was held at the Fight Club 88 boxing gym in Ellerslie, which has strong links to the gang.

Since Mr Morris' death, members of his family have fought for the alleged killer's name to be revealed.

An online petition asking for support in naming Murray received 15,000 signatures, including Mr Morris' father Chris, who stormed out of court when the defendant was originally granted suppression earlier this month.

When contacted today police said as the matter was still before the courts they were unable to make any comment in relation to the threatening comments.

Murray's defence lawyer Marie Dhyrberg QC also said she was unable to comment.

However, a legal expert said there were no laws in place that prevent people from making these types of comments.

"There is nothing in particular the law can do, other than if these death threats appear to be real then a complaint can be made to the police," Professor Ursula Cheer from the University of Canterbury said.

Dr Cheer said if the threats appeared to be real in police could contact the service provider, which in this case would be Facebook, and ask for the comments to removed.

"The implication behind that is if they [Facebook] don't remove them, it could be seen as a criminal offence to be carrying messages of that kind.

"That's why the service providers usually take them down, Facebook are normally pretty good with that stuff."