Two teenagers accused of murder on electronic bail

The two teenagers accused of murdering a man at an Auckland motel have been released on electronically-monitored bail.

Leonard Nattrass-Berquist and Beauen Daniel George Wallace-Loretz, both 17, appeared today in the High Court at Auckland over the death of 54-year-old Ihaia Gillman-Harris on December 27 at the Ascot Epsom Motel. Mr Gillman-Harris had strong links with Northland.

On January 7, the pair were denied bail but their applications for electronically-monitored (EM) bail -- on stricter terms -- were granted by Justice Mark Woolford this afternoon in front of a public gallery packed with family and friends of the teens.

EM bail requires a defendant to remain at an approved address at all times and be monitored by Corrections for up to 24 hours a day.

For an application to be granted, a judge must be satisfied that the public, witnesses, victims and the people who will share the address are safe from the defendant.

Justice Woolford ordered both to serve a 24-hour curfew with family members -- Nattrass-Berquist on the North Shore and Wallace-Loretz in west Auckland.

Both were barred from using alcohol or drugs.

Family wept as Justice Woolford gave his decision and the two defendants shared an enthusiastic embrace in the dock.

Nattrass-Berquist and Wallace-Loretz went to police on New Year's Eve after their names had been released to the public in relation to Mr Gillman-Harris' death.

Two days later, they were charged with murder and made a brief court appearance at Auckland District Court.

At their next appearance the following week, two further charges were laid against each of the youths.

They are also accused of robbing Mr Gillman-Harris of cash, a cell phone and bank card as well as unlawfully taking his $15,000 Range Rover.

The pair will be required to enter a plea when they appear in court next month.