The man accused of murdering great-grandmother at her home in downtown Auckland has pleaded not guilty to insanity.
The 49-year-old, who has undergone name suppression in the meantime, is accused of the murder of 77-year-old Maria Brown in Onehunga.
He appeared before the Auckland High Court on Wednesday via a video link from the Mason Clinic, a secure psychiatric facility.
The man’s attorney, Marie Dyhrberg KC, said a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity could be filed on behalf of her client.
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He is also accused of setting fire to Brown’s home on Moana Ave.
Justice Sally Fitzgerald previously ordered reports under the Criminal Procedure (Mentally Impaired Persons) Act 2003.
On Wednesday, Justice Fitzgerald found the man suitable to stand trial, which has been set for February 2024.
Lani Bartley/Delivered
Mary Brown was a great-grandmother.
The man has been placed in custody.
Brown’s body was… discovered by one of her grandsons on June 6, her birthday. The family had been trying to contact her for the past 24 hours, but were unable to reach her.
Court documents revealed that police believed she had died two days earlier, on June 4.