Man appears in court over prison-van murder

A 25-year-old North Shore man appeared in Auckland District Court this morning accused of murdering teenager Liam Ashley.

The man, who stood in the dock wearing handcuffs, was granted interim name suppression until 2.15pm tomorrow.

Liam was attacked while travelling in the back of a Chubb prison van taking him from North Shore District Court to Auckland Central Remand Prison at Mt Eden last Thursday.

He was found unconscious when the van reached the prison and he was rushed to hospital where his life-support machine was switched off the next day.

The accused man, who was remanded in custody, will return to court tomorrow when evidence will be heard from an overstayer, who was also in the van, and is due to be deported on Saturday.

Liam's parents sat at the back of the court during the short hearing.

- NZPA