Man accused of Taupo murder appears in court

Rotorua courthouse. Photo/File

The identity of a man accused of the murder of a woman in Taupo at the weekend will remain secret until at least his next court appearance.

The 56-year-old appeared in the Rotorua District Court todayvia audio visual link charged with the murder of a 58-year-old woman. He has not yet entered a plea.

His lawyer, Harry Edward, asked Judge Mackenzie to order a psychiatric report to determine whether the man was fit to stand trial, which she granted.

Mr Edward also asked that interim name suppression be continued.

Judge Mackenzie said the man's appearance was effectively his first in the district court, despite appearing via video link on Easter Monday before Justices of the Peace.

She said that was relevant because there only needed to be an "arguable case" for name suppression at a first appearance.

Judge Mackenzie granted the man continued name suppression and remanded him back in custody to appear in the High Court at Rotorua on May 10.

Prosecutor Chris Macklin appeared for the Crown.

The murder is alleged to have happened on Saturday at a Mahuta Rd property at Five Mile Bay, near Taupo.

Emergency services responded to a report of a woman who had suffered stab wounds about 8.30am. She was taken to Waikato Hospital but died that day.