Christchurch murder accused granted name suppression

A 25-year-old appeared in court this morning charged with the murder of Kenneth John Moore. File photo

A 25-year-old appeared in court this morning charged with the murder of Kenneth John Moore, 65, in Christchurch on Friday - the quake-hit city's second murder case already this year.

The man, granted interim name suppression this morning to give him time to inform his family of his arrest, appeared in the dock at Christchurch District Court this morning charged with the murder last Friday, January 6.

Police say the men were known to each other.

Mr Moore was found dead at his home in Goldsmith Place, in the Waltham area of the city yesterday.

Ambulance staff were initially called to the house where he lived on his own, before police launched their homicide investigation.

Today, the murder accused was remanded in custody without plea until January 23 when he will next appear in court, at the city's men's prison.

Defence counsel Craig Ruane asked for the interim name suppression, which was granted by Judge David Saunders. No other application was made.

The judge told the man, whose address was given as being in Upper Riccarton, Christchurch, that his identity would be protected in order for him to inform relatives of his position.

But he warned that at his next court appearance, it would likely he would be identified.

Today, police are continuing their probe, conducting inquiries at a number of addresses and locations throughout Christchurch.