A 14-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of Scottish backpacker Karen Aim in Taupo.
Ms Aim (26), from the Orkney Islands, was attacked as she walked home from a night out early on January 17 and died later in hospital.
The teenager appeared briefly in the Rotorua Youth Court yesterday charged with murder, aggravated robbery and intentional damage.
About 12 of the boy's family and supporters were in the public gallery during his short appearance, the Daily Post reported.
Judge Jocelyn Munro made several suppression orders - including any details relating to the charges - and remanded the boy without plea into the custody of a youth justice facility.
The case will next be called for a pre-depositions hearing on April 15 but the boy's appearance has been excused.
Ms Aim had been in New Zealand on a working holiday when she was killed.
She was described by her aunt Violet Perfect, of Palmerston North, as full of life.
‘‘Whenever Karen stayed with us, the whole house changed as if a light had been switched on,'' she said.
‘‘She loved life; she loved New Zealand; she loved Taupo; she loved her job and she loved all her new friends,'' she said.
Ms Aim's body was flown back to her home in the Orkney Islands late in January, after a 19,000km journey by air and sea from New Zealand.
She was farewelled at a funeral service at East Mainland Church by her parents Brian and Peggy, and her brother Alan, together with 300 mourners.
Ms Aim's parents and brother plan to visit New Zealand next year to retrace her last steps.
Mr Aim planned to walk the route his daughter took on the night she died, he told Scottish media.
He hoped doing so would help him get a clearer picture of the crime.
The family believed going to the spot where Ms Aim was killed would help them feel close to her, Mr Aim said.
The trio would also use their visit to thank Taupo people for their support.
‘‘We are carrying on the best we can. We are managing marvellously, really,'' Mr Aim said.
‘‘We took the attitude from the very start that the murderer or murderers had taken down Karen and they were not going to take us down as well.
‘‘I do not think it has sunk in yet and do not think it ever will.
‘‘But the way I look at it, we got 26 wonderful years. If Karen had lived until 90 she would never have got this tribute".
