Auckland brothel murder-accused named, pleads not guilty

9:56 am on 17 June 2020

The man accused of murdering a 30 year old at an Auckland brothel can now be named.

The Epsom brothel where a man was found dead on the morning of 10 March.

A police car outside the scene at the Epsom brothel in March. Photo: RNZ / Katie Scotcher

Jiann-Hwa Maa, 60, appeared in the High Court at Auckland this morning via audio-visual link.

Justice Fitzgerald deemed Maa fit to stand trial and his lawyer entered a not guilty plea to the murder charge on his behalf.

Orders suppressing Maa's name have now lapsed.

Police launched a homicide investigation after Zion Gutnik was found dead at a brothel in Epsom in March.

Maa was arrested six weeks later.

At the time, the police said the two men were known to each other.

Maa will reappear in court in August.