Two teenagers charged with murdering taxi driver Abdulrahman Akhtiari have been remanded in custody to December 23, after sittings in the Youth Court and District Court in Christchurch.
They were arrested late yesterday, three days after Mr Akhtiari was found dead next to his cab in Worcester Street, central Christchurch.
Neither of the accused teens' names can be published. One is aged 16 and appeared in the Youth Court where he has automatic suppression, and a two-day suppression order was granted to the 19-year-old who appeared in the adult jurisdiction.
No applications for bail were made by defence counsel Elizabeth Bulger for the 16 year old, or Kerry Cook for the older youth.
The older youth, a painter from Woolston, has suppression until 5pm on Wednesday.
Mr Cook said he had only taken instructions this morning and wanted the two days to assess whether a suppression order should be sought from the court.
The order will lapse tomorrow unless application is made before then by Mr Cook.
Crown prosecutor Mark Zarifeh said: "I don't consent (to the suppression) but I can understand the basis for the application."
The youth stood in the dock, sometimes wiping tears from his eyes, during the appearance.
He also appeared in the Youth Court on other matters at the same time -- thefts, receiving, unlawfully taking two cars, dishonestly using a document, and disorderly behaviour -- and they were remanded to another Youth Court sitting on January 20.
Miss Bulger, representing him only on the murder charge, said: "There are several matters to be sorted out as to how this matter is going to proceed."
No bed is available at the Te Puna Wai youth justice residence at Rolleston until tomorrow, and the youth will be held in the police cells until then.
The two appeared separately. As they were led back to the cells, people in the public seats called "I love you", to both of them.
