Bruce Emery. Photo / Kenny Rodger
The businessman charged with murdering a teenage tagger is under police protection after receiving another death threat.
Bruce William Emery, 50, was granted bail on Friday after spending three weeks in custody on charges of murdering 15-year-old Pihema Clifford Cameron in Manurewa on January 26.
The stabbing allegedly
occurred during an argument that arose as Pihema was about to tag a fence on Emery's property.
A decision about bail was supposed to have been made a week ago, but Emery asked for another seven days in custody so an alternative bail address could be arranged because he did not want to return to his Manurewa home.
Emotions were running high at Friday's court appearance, with the teenage tagger's family members ordered by the judge to remove their memorial T-shirts.
Emery's lawyer, Chris Comeskey, told the Herald on Sunday it was time for calm to prevail. He confirmed Emery had received another anonymous death threat and was receiving police protection.
A week ago, Comeskey received a similar anonymous message warning Emery would be killed if he was granted bail. Police are trying to track that call.
"He [Emery] has been in tears over this ordeal," Comeskey said. "He is highly cut up about this. He just wants to get his life back on track.
"He is a pretty fragile individual. People ought just to settle. This thing is in the courts now and the courts will make a decision as to his fate and that is something everyone will have to live with."
Emery next appears on February 22 for a pre-depositions hearing.
