Man charged with murder
A 24-year-old Christchurch man has appeared in court charged with the murder of King Cobras gang member Luke Riddell.
Riddell, 28, was shot dead in front of his fiancee at Charing Cross, in Selwyn, Canterbury, about 3.30pm on Saturday.
The man, a process worker of Hei Hei, handed himself in to police after a four-day manhunt that included armed police raiding a property on Tuesday, and calling for him to come out.
He was not found there, but police announced yesterday morning an arrest had been made, shortly before his appearance in a Christchurch District Courtroom that had been closed to the public for what Judge Brian Callaghan described as ‘‘security reasons’’.
Name suppression was granted by Judge Callaghan at the request of defence counsel James Rapley when the man appeared by video-link from the cells.
He said the man had gone to the police after taking advice from his pastor and family.
The man entered no pleas to charges of murdering 28-year-old Luke Sears, also known as Luke Riddell, and unlawful possession of a shotgun.
Judge Callaghan remanded him in custody for an appearance in the High Court on November 2.
Detective Inspector Corrie Parnell confirmed earlier yesterday a man had been charged with Riddell’s murder.
The arrest comes after a 35-year-old man appeared in court on Wednesday facing a raft of firearms charges in relation to the killing.
Parnell said police wanted to thank the public for their assistance during the investigation.
‘‘We acknowledge the public’s concerns regarding this incident and are pleased to be able to bring the matter before the courts.
‘‘I would also like to acknowledge the high-calibre work of the skilled investigation team involved in this case.’’
The 35-year-old man who appeared by video-link at the Christchurch District Court before Judge Tom Gilbert on Wednesday was granted interim name suppression. Five police officers were in court, some carrying tasers, and two court security officers were present. It is understood there were concerns about a possible presence in the public gallery, but the public seating was empty, even though the court remained open. Defence counsel Elizabeth Bulger made an application for bail for the man, a digger operator from Selwyn, west of Christchurch.
He entered no pleas to charges of being unlawfully in possession of a sawn-off shotgun and shotgun cartridges at Darfield, in Selwyn, on Saturday, and another charge of unlawful possession of a shotgun.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Paul Scott opposed bail.
The judge refused bail and remanded the man for an appearance next Thursday.
Only limited details hearings are allowed of bail to be published under the Bail Act. The Act suppresses all discussion that takes place.
A death notice published in The Press on Wednesday said Riddell was ‘‘loved, cherished and adored’’ by his fiancee, son, and the rest of his family.
Parnell said earlier initial inquiries into the killing suggested an altercation had occurred between two men, resulting in one of the men being shot.
A team of 40 investigators was working on the case.
‘‘We will make every effort to bring this and those persons that are responsible to account for this incident expediently,’’ Parnell said.
Parnell acknowledged the investigation had a ‘‘backdrop of gang association’’. The possibility of gang retaliation was ‘‘always a concern’’ to police, he said.