District Court of Invercargill. PHOTO: ODT FILES
A man alleged to have caused the death of a 78-year-old at an Invercargill inn made his first appearance before Judge Bernadette Farnan in Invercargill Court this morning.
The 44-year-old man is charged with the death of Douglas Watson by assault and thus manslaughter. The alleged crime allegedly took place on January 28 this year.
Police last week reported the death of Mr Watson (78) on February 1 after an altercation in a car park in Invercargill on January 28.
Today, the man, through his counsel Hugo Young, applied for and received provisional suppression of his name.
Mr. Young requested a three-week delay so that full disclosure could be received.
Part of the man’s bail conditions was not to contact anyone associated with the case and not to enter the Newfield Tavern.
The case has now been transferred to the High Court in Invercargill where the man will appear on April 18.