Boy accused of fatal bus hub stabbing bailed

The 13-year-old accused of a fatal stabbing at Dunedin’s bus hub has been bailed.

The defendant, who previously pleaded not guilty to the murder of 16-year-old Enere McLaren-Taana, appeared in the High Court at Dunedin last week seeking electronically monitored release pending trial and continuation of his name suppression.

Justice Lisa Preston reserved her decision at the conclusion of the hearing but her judgement was yesterday released to the Otago Daily Times.

"Having regard to [the defendant’s] age and applying the youth principles in this case, in particular his right as a child defendant to privacy and the likely impact of pre-trial publicity upon him, it is in the interests of justice to continue interim suppression to trial," the judge said.

The defendant was bailed on condition he surrender any passports and not apply for any travel documentation.

His bail address cannot be published.

Enere was stabbed at the bus hub in Great King St on the afternoon of May 23.

He was rushed to hospital — just 500m away — but died later that day.

The court previously heard a trial could not be scheduled until 2026, but last week Justice Preston said there was now time available in February next year.

Following Enere’s death, Trinity Catholic College principal Kate Nicholson said the school’s hearts "go out to his whānau who are going through this terrible loss".

The victim’s funeral was held at First Church last month where King’s High School pupils led a haka in his memory.

rob.kidd@odt.co.nz