Joint rape accused keeps name suppression

The name of a 37-year-old man jointly accused with a woman of committing a series of rapes in Hamilton over six months will remain suppressed for the time being.

Yesterday Judge Robert Spier declined an application from defence lawyer Nitin Deobhakta for the man to have continued name suppression, ruling that interim suppression would end at noon today.

But Mr Deobhakta told NZPA after the court hearing that he was considering an appeal against the ruling.

That appeal was lodged this morning and a Justice ministry spokesman said it had not yet been decided when a hearing would be held.

The man was charged with four counts of sexual violation dating from last July to January, and one charge of doing an indecent act in a public place last July.

His 32-year-old co-accused faces the same four sexual violation charges. The pair also face cannabis charges but these were not detailed in court yesterday.

He was remanded in custody and she is on bail - both to reappear in the district court on March 2.

The pair were arrested on a rural property between Hamilton and Cambridge late on Friday night.

- NZPA