The two men accused of the Waipouri murder will appear in Palmerston North District Court for a depositions hearing on the 15th of June. Andre Gilling, 17, and Ashley Benjamin Arnopp, 20, first appeared in Court on the 13th of February, accused of murdering local gay man Stanley Waipouri late last year. Details of the horrific murder scene were released last month. Police believe the attack lasted between one and two hours, in which Waipouri had his ear bitten off, part of his penis cut or bitten off, and his face severely mutilated. The detective handling the case, Glenda Barnaby, says evidence will be presented at the hearing and a decision made on whether to case will go to trial. It will be an open court, so anyone interested in the case is welcome to attend, Barnaby explains. “That's the only way you can hear the facts and make your own judgement. “The defendants are there and supposedly not guilty until proven guilty.” Gilling and Arnopp will both remain in custody until the hearing. Ref: GayNZ.com (m)
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Wednesday, 28th March 2007 - 12:00pm