A New Zealand man accused of attacking an Irish backpacker two years ago has been formally charged in a Sydney court.
A Waverly Local Court registrar says Kane Desmond Tupuolamoui, 21, was remanded in custody to reappear in Central Local Court on 2 September. She says his lawyer did not apply for bail.
Mr Tupuolamoui is the fourth person arrested in relation to the attack, which left David Keohane in a coma for 218 days and with permanent brain damage.
The arrest followed a nationwide search launched two months ago. Police say a tipoff led them to Mr Tupuolamoui.
Arrested in Darwin on Wednesday and extradited to Sydney, the accused man has been charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent to murder. He did not appear in court himself.
Police say he and Thomas Isaako assaulted Mr Keohane, then 29, and stole his wallet and phone at Coogee late at night in August 2008.
Isaako is already serving a minimum sentence of 14 years in jail over the bashing and a separate attack.
