Murder accused named

A Masterton man accused of murder has lost his application for name suppression.

Wire Reddington’s interim name suppression was lifted after a short hearing in Wellington High Court yesterday morning.

He was charged with murder earlier this year.

It is understood the 32-year-old was formerly a roofer, based in Masterton.

Reddington continued to be remanded in custody after yesterday’s one-hour hearing.

Judge Arthur Tompkins granted Reddington interim name suppression in Masterton District Court at a hearing in July.

Reddington’s counsel, Ian Hard, had asked the court to continue the temporary name suppression order until early next year.

The Criminal Procedure Act allows a defendant’s name to be suppressed for a number of reasons, including that publication would be likely to cause extreme hardship to the person charged.

The application was opposed by the Crown.

Judge Radich declined to extend name suppression for Reddington because the relevant statutory evidential threshold had not been met.

Radich referenced the relevant evidence in his judgment.

“In assessing whether the threshold … is met, the court must assess whether the publication of the defendant’s name would be likely to give rise to one of the outcomes in S200[2]. In that context, ‘likely’ means a real and appreciable possibility,” he said.

“The phrase ‘extreme hardship’ does indicate a high threshold.”

After canvassing the relevant legal authorities, Judge Radich decided the evidential threshold had not been met in this case.

“I agree with the submissions for counsel for the Crown, that [the evidence] does not meet the high threshold, the high standard, required for S200[2][a] to be met,” he said.

Radich concluded the interim name suppression order should be lifted straight away.

“Accordingly, on the evidence before me, I do not find the thresholds … have been met, and I do not believe it to be in order for there to be any further delay in this decision being made.”

It is understood Reddington has not yet entered a plea. A one-to-two-week trial has been set for September 23, 2024.