Murder accused keeps name secret

A man who allegedly murdered a stranger as she walked home from work will keep his name secret for now while he is assessed by mental health professionals.

Laisa Waka, 52, was metres from her home in Cheyenne St, Sockburn, when she was attacked by a man wielding a knife about 4.20pm on June 25. She died at the scene. A 37-year-old man was arrested a short time later, about 500 metres away in Epsom Rd, and charged with murder.

The man appeared in the High Court at Christchurch yesterday before Justice Cameron Mander. His lawyer, Josh Lucas, asked for name suppression to continue as assessments were still being carried out to determine the man’s fitness to stand trial under section 38 of the Criminal Procedure (Mentally Impaired Persons) Act 2003. Lucas asked for the case to be adjourned and for a second report to be completed under the act, and whether he had a defence of insanity.

Justice Mander said an interim name suppression order would continue. The man is next due to appear on August 26.

The man, who appeared via audiovisual link, was silent throughout the hearing. A two-week trial date was set for February 2024. The man was a patient at Hillmorton Hospital where he was being cared for in a secure unit.

Waka’s grieving husband, Nemani Tunidau, earlier said he was angry the man who allegedly killed her had been in the community. ‘‘Why was he out?’’

Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury chief executive Dr Peter Bramley has said a full review of the accused’s care at Hillmorton Hospital is under way following what was deemed a ‘‘serious adverse event’’. ‘‘I can assure the public that if there are recommendations for changes to be made as a result of our own or any external review, these will be actioned.’’

The director of mental health, Dr John Crawshaw, has invoked a rarely used statutory power to order an inspection of Hillmorton Hospital’s secure unit.

‘‘This incident occurred in the context of concerns being raised about the safety and care being offered by these services,’’ Crawshaw said.

Crawshaw said that if the inspection determined there were no systemic or service issues, the public could be assured ‘‘on how the services are being run’’.

‘‘If issues are found, then recommendations will be made on how to address those issues.’’

A separate ‘‘full and independent review’’ into the care of the murderaccused was being led by Te Whatu Ora (the new national health agency), Crawshaw said.

‘‘Thus, while there might be some overlap, this inspection is not a review into that individual’s care.’’