Neighbours of a 14-year-old schoolboy charged yesterday with the murder and indecent assault of Libby Templeman describe his family as loving and quiet.
The boy - who police said was known to Libby - appeared in the Kaikohe Youth Court yesterday, six days after she went missing in Kerikeri.
A neighbour said the boy's family were "very nice people". Another neighbour said they were a loving family.
"They were always family-oriented and the kids were never out in the street fooling around or anything. They're very polite boys, very polite. They're very nice . . . never rowdy."
Far North area commander Inspector Chris Scahill confirmed the boy was known to Libby, but he was not her boyfriend.
Insp Scahill would not say when police first spoke to the boy, but said he was arrested yesterday afternoon during a prearranged appointment at the Kaikohe police station.
A police liaison officer was with the Templeman family when they were told of the arrest.
Before the arrest, police searched a house about 4km from where Libby's body was found, in the Wairoa Stream in Kerikeri last Sunday evening.
The 14-year-old has been remanded in the custody of Child, Youth and Family and will reappear in the Kaikohe Youth Court on November 17.
A service to farewell Libby will be held today.
