17 Jan 2013

Accused killer denied electronic bail

2:35 pm on 17 January 2013

A man accused of murdering a Hamilton woman has been denied bail.

Rae Portman, 33, also known as Bok, was last seen in Auckland in June last year. Her body was found at a rural Ardmore property in September.

Paraire Te Awa, 32, applied on Thursday at Papakura District Court to be remanded on electronic bail at an address in Hamilton.

Police opposed the application, saying electronic bail will not stop the accused from contacting key witnesses in the case.

Mr Te Awa also has links to gangs and methamphetamine connections.

Lawyer Peter Kaye said his client denies all the accusations and said police had unreliable sources for their information.

However, bail was denied until Mr Te Awa's next court appearance on 25 January.