Epsom motel death: Accused to remain behind bars

Beauen Wallace-Loretz. Photo / Brett Phibbs

An Auckland teen charged with murder, who allegedly escaped bail and evaded authorities for four days, will remain behind bars.

Beauen Daniel George Wallace-Loretz, 17, appeared today in the High Court at Auckland for a bail-breach hearing.

His lawyer, John Kovacevich, did not advance a new application for bail this morning and the teenager was remanded in custody through to his trial date in October.

Wallace-Loretz and Leonard Nattrass-Berquist, 17, are accused of the murder of 54-year-old Ihaia Gillman-Harris at the Ascot Epsom Motel on December 27.

Both defendants were granted electronically monitored bail in January 20 by Justice Mark Woolford.

He ordered them 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.

But police say Wallace-Loretz absconded from his bail address after cutting this electronic bracelet on Thursday night.

It is understood at least one associate helped him flee the property.

But he was arrested at an Auckland house yesterday after police received a tip-off.

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 cellphone and bank card as well as unlawfully taking his $15,000 Range Rover.