Bail denied for Waihi Beach murder accused

The 18-year-old charged with the New Year murder of an ex-pat Kiwi holidaying at Waihi Beach has been denied bail.

The youth appeared in the Tauranga District Court today before Judge Robert Wolff who heard submissions from lawyer Paul Mabey QC.

Mr Wolff ordered the suppression of everything that was said throughout the half-hour application, except his decision to decline bail.

The youth waved to to the group of six young people and five adults who were in the public gallery when he was led into the dock.

The police were represented by Crown Prosector Hayley Sheridan.

Robert Murray Wilkinson, 64, was stabbed in the neck and head at a relative's Waihi Beach Rd property after he went to investigate a disturbance outside the caravan where he and his wife were staying around 1am on January 1.

Mr Wilkinson, who had been holidaying from Queensland, died at Waikato Hospital on January 3 surrounded by his family.

Name suppression of the youth remains in place until it was lifted by an order of the court.