28 Mar 2012

Man accused of journalist's murder to stay in custody

11:41 am on 28 March 2012

The older of two men accused of murdering Radio New Zealand journalist Phillip Cottrell is no longer seeking electronically-monitored bail.

Mr Cottrell was beaten as he walked home from work about 5.30am on 10 December last year and died in hospital the following day.

Nicho Waipuka, 19, made a brief appearance in the Wellington District Court on Wednesday morning.

At an earlier hearing, the court was told the address submitted as part of an electronic bail application was unsuitable, as the monitoring equipment would not work there.

Lawyer Paul Paino told the court on Wednesday said his client was abandoning his bid for bail.

Judge Bruce Davidson remanded Mr Waipuka in custody until May when a post-committal conference will take place.