An 18-year-old Waihi man has appeared in court charged with
the murder of holidaymaker Murray Wilkinson outside a caravan
in the town early on New Year's Day.
The teenager, who has interim name suppression, appeared in
Hamilton District Court today dressed in a blue boiler suit
following his arrest at a Waihi address yesterday afternoon.
During his appearance, the accused nodded at a woman in the
court whom the Herald understands was his mother.
Judge David Ruth granted him interim name suppression until
January 14 when he will reappear in Tauranga District Court.
Mr Wilkinson, a 64-year-old expatriate New Zealander who
lived in Brisbane, was holidaying at Waihi Beach at a
friend's home and was staying in a caravan with his wife
Luise when he was attacked early on January 1.
He was stabbed in the neck and face as he went to investigate
a noise and died in Waikato Hospital on January 3.
The homicide investigation involved about 30 police staff
from across Waikato and the central and upper North Island.
They received a flood of holiday images and statements from
the public. Several knives were also collected.
Detective Inspector Chris Page said today there was still
much work to do on the investigation and police were still to
canvass an area of Waihi Beach.
The arrest came nearly a week after Mr Wilkinson's widow, son
Dan and daughter Cory made an emotional appeal for
information.
Police urged the public to continue to contact police with
any information or images they may have from in or around the
scene.
"One particular way the public can still help the
investigation is that if anyone who was staying at addresses
between 01-40 Citrus Ave, Waihi Beach on the night of
December 31- January 1 could contact police.''
The Operation Brad enquiry team could be found at Waihi Beach
and Waihi police stations or contacted via the enquiry
crimeline; 0800 OP BRAD
(0800 672723).
Information could also be left anonymously with Crimestoppers
on 0800 555111.
.
- By James Ihaka and Jamie Morton of the New Zealand
Herald
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