Marie Davis. Photo / Supplied
The man accused of killing Christchurch teen Marie Davis was the uncle of one of her friends and helped in the search for her.
Dean Stewart Cameron, 38, a roading worker, was charged on Monday with murdering the 15-year-old Papanui High School student "on or about" April 6,
the day she was reported missing from her suburban Papanui home.
His name suppression has now lapsed.
Cameron is also charged with sexually violating her about the same date and possessing cannabis on April 14.
Ms Davis' family and friends now know that a man they knew and trusted during the search for Marie has turned out to be the accused.
"He was putting up posters, things like that," family spokesperson Nick Donald told One News.
"He's a coward .. an absolute coward.
"He was just trying to hide putting up those posters."
A thin man of average height with short dark hair, Cameron was abused by members of the public when he left the Christchurch District Court dock on Monday after a hearing lasting less than two minutes.
Defence lawyer Peter Doody asked Judge Christopher Somerville for a remand for two weeks and sought name suppression for that period to allow Cameron to tell his family about the charges.
But the judge granted name suppression only until 10am today, telling Mr Doody he doubted it would take two weeks for Cameron to inform his family.
Cameron is due back in court on May 13.
Marie's mother, Janet, older sister Amy, and cousin and family spokesman Nick Donald were in court to confront the accused.
As Cameron left the dock people in the crowded public gallery called out: "Sick prick," "creep," and "f...ing wanker".
Marie's body was found submerged in the Waimakariri River, north of Christchurch, on April 17, nearly two weeks after she disappeared from her home after being dropped off by a friend's mother.
More than 400 mourners attended a moving funeral service for her last Thursday.
- NZPA, NZ HERALD STAFF
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