Not guilty plea entered over Masterton church arson charges

The man, who had interim name suppression, was in prison, and the appearance was by video link. His defence lawyer asked for interim name suppression to remain in place “out of an abundance of caution” until she had reviewed the defendant’s medical reports and other documents.

Judge Barbara Morris agreed to the request and directed that the matter be reassessed at the defendant’s case review hearing scheduled for August 4.

An application by the Wairarapa Times-Age to photograph the defendant would have been approved, with direction to pixelate his face, had he been physically in court, the judge ruled.

The man was arrested on May 18 after a search warrant was carried out by Police at a Masterton address. Six churches and a local business in Masterton were damaged by fire in the early hours of February 22. Among the buildings damaged was St Patrick’s Catholic Church.

The defendant, who had a Porirua address, was charged with seven counts of arson.

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Suspected church arsonist pleads not guilty | The Post (By Lucy Cooper/Wairarapa Times-Age – subscription required)