Judge maintains murder accused’s name suppression

A MAN accused of murdering a Dunedin couple and setting fire to their house will have his identity kept under wraps for at least another three weeks.

The 46yearold Dunedin man accused of the arson of 66B Wesley St on January 22 originally appeared before the Dunedin District Court a week after the incident.

Yesterday, he was also charged with the murders of David Ian Clarke (49) and Anastasia Margaret Neve (35).

Counsel Judith AblettKerr QC opposed media applications to photograph her client and applied for continued name suppression.

The Crown supported her bid to keep the man’s name out of the public eye.

Judge Dominic Flatley granted the application, referring to the early stage of proceedings.

Police confirmed a week after the deaths that they were con sidered suspicious.

‘‘Police are now treating the deaths as a double homicide and evidence suggests that they died before the fire started,’’ a statement said.

Police refused to reveal details concerning the pair’s cause of death because it was ‘‘significant’’ and could become key evidence that goes before a court.

Days after the initial arrest was made, police offered ‘‘identity protection’’ for anyone who came forward with information.

The man charged was known to the couple, they confirmed.

The defendant’s next appearance will in the High Court at Dunedin on March 13. No bail application had been made and he was remanded in custody.