Teen murder accused named

A Turangi teenager accused of murder had name suppression lifted at the start of her trial in the High Court at Rotorua today.

Rarua Mere Edwardson, 17, has pleaded not guilty to stabbing Melissa Moana Puhi, 16, in Turangi on May 13, 2006.

Edwardson could not be legally named at the time of her arrest as she was only 16.

A jury of eight women and four men were today selected for the trial.

The prosecution said it intended to call 55 witnesses, mainly from Turangi.

The trial is expected to last three weeks.

- NZPA