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