LISA BURD/Things
Emergency services were called the Devon St West address on May 27. (file photo)
A man accused of murdering 21-year-old Emma Field of Taranaki has appeared in court.
The 31-year-old was arrested Thursday and charged with murder and arson after a house fire in New Plymouth on May 27.
Field’s body was found that night at the Devon St West address, police said.
The man appeared before Judge Phillip Cooper in New Plymouth District Court on Friday, via an audiovisual link from New Plymouth Police Station.
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† Man charged with murder after New Plymouth fire
His sister was in court for the first time.
During the appearance, attorney Julian Hannam asked for an interim suppression of the name for a period of two weeks. He advocated oppression in the interests of the mental health of the accused and integration into the prison system.
Police Prosecutor Lewis Sutton did not oppose the suppression of the name.
Hannam did not file a bail request at the time of the appearance. However, Hannam indicated that in the future he would like to submit an electronic bail application for the suspect at an address outside the region.
Judge Cooper has taken the accused into custody with name suppression and without plea until July 29, an appearance that will be before the Supreme Court.