Suppression lapses for Zac Cochrane-Cope, accused of murdering Joseph Walsh in New Lynn, Auckland

Zac Cochrane-Cope is charged with murdering Joseph David Walsh at a New Lynn residence. Photo / Michael Craig

An Auckland man accused of murder after police found him at a New Lynn residence where another man was dying can now be named.

Hillpark resident Zac Dennis Cochrane-Cope, 28, declined to seek ongoing name suppression as he appeared for the first time in the High Court at Auckland this morning.

He pleaded not guilty to murder, through his lawyer Emma Priest.

Emergency responders were called to a Kaponga Cres home just before midday on Monday, October 6, where they found Joseph David Walsh, 32, critically injured.

Walsh died at the scene.

Authorities have not disclosed how Walsh was injured or how the two knew each other. Cochrane-Cope was at the scene when police took him into custody.

Police investigate the scene at a New Lynn residence where a man died on October 6, 2025. Photo / NZME

After Cochrane-Cope’s arrest, acting Detective Inspector Simon Harrison said police were not seeking anyone else.

“We would like to reassure the community that this appears to be an isolated incident.”

During today’s brief administrative hearing, which lasted less than four minutes, Justice Mathew Downs thanked the crowded gallery for their quiet attendance.

Police and paramedics were called to the New Lynn address at 11.53am on October 6. Photo / Supplied

He set a trial date for November next year.

Cochrane-Cope remains in custody, awaiting trial.

Craig Kapitan is an Auckland-based journalist covering courts and justice. He joined the Herald in 2021 and has reported on courts since 2002 in three newsrooms in the US and New Zealand.

Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.