Father and son charged with murder named

Dean and Mark Carruthers are accused of murdering James Mathew Ellis at Blueskin Bay on April. File photo / NZ Herald

A father and son jointly charged with the murder of a 23-year-old man at Blueskin Bay, near Dunedin, in April can now been identified.

Orders suppressing the names of Dean Robert Carruthers, 47, and his son, Mark Robert Carruthers, 18, have been revoked by the high court.

The pair are jointly charged, with Peter Richard Holmes, 25, with murdering James Mathew Ellis at Blueskin Bay on April 15.

Dean Carruthers was granted name suppression because of concerns about his mental health. His son's name was suppressed because publication of that would lead to identification of the father.

In the High Court at Dunedin today, Anne Stevens asked Justice Christine French to continue name suppression for Dean Carruthers. But she acknowledged his condition was now stable and he was receiving appropriate care.

Crown counsel Robin Bates opposed extending the orders and Brian Kilkelly -acting for Mark Carruthers - accepted his client's name suppression was only on the basis of protecting the father's identity.

Justice French said Dean Carruthers' personal circumstances were not sufficient to justify a departure from the fundamental principle of openness. Continued name suppression was not warranted for him, she said and, because both orders "stand or fall together", it followed the order suppressing the son's name had also to be revoked.

The three men were remanded to November 23 for a callover of the case. Dean Carruthers remains on bail but Mark Carruthers was remanded in custody because the address where he has been living in Christchurch is no longer available.

Holmes has been in custody since his arrest.

- Otago Daily Times