The younger of two boys accused of taking part in a fatal raid on a West Auckland dairy has had his charge upgraded to manslaughter.
Arun Kumar. Photo: SUPPLIED
Arun Kumar died in his Railside Avenue dairy in Henderson after being attacked on 10 June. Police said the 57-year-old appeared to have stab wounds to his neck.
The 12-year-old was originally charged with assault with intent to rob, but the Crown says police have laid a new charge.
The boy, whose name is suppressed, made a brief appearance before Judge Tony Fitzgerald in the Auckland Youth Court on Wednesday and was remanded back into the care of Child, Youth and Family.
Because of the seriousness of the charge, his case has been sent to the High Court in Auckland where he is due to appear in July.
Members of his family were in court and he nodded to them as he was led back into custody.
Psychiatric testing for murder-accused
A 13-year-old charged with murdering Mr Kumar is to undergo psychiatric testing following another appearance at the High Court on Wednesday morning.
Justice Lang continued name suppression because of his age. He ordered the teenager to be assessed by forensic mental health services and set another hearing date for August.
The boy has also been remanded to a Child, Youth and Family facility.
Justice Lang set a trial date in November for three weeks, saying it was important that the boy did not wait until the new year.
