A teenager has denied killing a homeless man in Auckland and will face trial next year charged with murder.
Edwin Linder, 42, died in hospital last month, a week after he was found beaten and unconscious in Mills Lane in the central city.
The 17-year-old accused appeared on Wednesday morning in the High Court in Auckland where Justice Brewer said he was reluctantly continuing his name suppression.
The reason for the suppression order is also suppressed.
The teenager entered a plea of not guilty and will face trial in July next year.
He blew a kiss to supporters in the public gallery as he was led back into custody by security guards.
