Women charged over killing

WELLINGTON: Two women facing charges in relation to the fatal shooting of Wellington man Rau Tongia have been given name suppression.

A 35yearold woman has been charged with murdering Mr Tongia on December 20, while a 20yearold woman is charged with being an accessory after the fact to the murder.

Both women appeared in the Wellington District Court yesterday.

Court documents allege the younger women ``actively suppressed evidence'' by transporting and concealing a firearm at an associate's property in order to help someone avoid conviction.

Her lawyer applied for interim name suppression on the basis her elderly grandfather would suffer ``shock and horror'' and potential harm to his health if he found out about her charge through news media.

Judge Ian Mill granted the application.

The older woman also appeared yesterday afternoon when her lawyer also argued for interim name suppression, on the basis he had concerns for her mental health.

Judge Mill said there did not appear to be strong grounds to grant the application, but agreed to grant it pending a mental health assessment.

The suppression will be reviewed at the next appearance.

Neither defendant has entered a plea to their respective charges.

They were remanded in custody to reappear in the High Court at Wellington next month.

Mr Tongia (33) was found dead in his Karori home late last month.

Police said on Wednesday they had located a firearm they believed was linked to his death. — The New Zealand Herald