Motel death: Accused expected to seek bail

The court heard at least one of the teens would make an application for bail at the next appearance.

At least one of the two teenagers charged with the murder of an Auckland man at a motel is expected to apply for bail next week.

Leonard Nattrass-Berquist and Beauen Wallace-Loretz, both 17, appeared in the Auckland District Court yesterday after being arrested on Wednesday over the death of 54-year-old Ihaia Gillman-Harris.

The pair appeared before a Justice of the Peace who only had the jurisdiction to remand them in custody until Monday, when the matter will go before a judge.

Applications to photograph the accused were declined after defence lawyer Murray Gibson said their pictures were already in the media and there was "not much to be gained" from new images.

The court heard at least one of the teens would make an application for bail at the next appearance.

It is alleged the pair were with Mr Gillman-Harris when he checked into an Epsom motel on Saturday.

Shortly after check-in, two young men left in his vehicle.

An hour later, he went to reception with a head injury and asked for help. He died in hospital soon after.

Detective Inspector Scott Beard would not comment further on the specifics of the investigation but said the victim's family were relieved arrests had been made.

Mr Gillman-Harris worked for KiwiRail as a team leader assistant in Auckland's Southdown freight terminal.

He spent Christmas Day in Wellington before travelling to Auckland on Boxing Day.

An autopsy revealed Mr Gillman-Harris died as a result of blunt-force trauma to his head.