Four persons charged with murder

Press, 1 February 1983, Page 7

Four persons charged with murder

Two women and two men were charged yesterday in the District Court with the murder of Leyland Edward Bell, aged 53. whose body was found in a shallow backyard grave in Lincoln Road on January 23. They are: Richard Frank Flyger. aged 39. unemployed (Mr E. Bedo); Margaret Ann Genet, aged 30. a beneficiary (Mr R. J. Murfitt): Lindy Merina Jackson, aged 38. a machine operator (Mr M. J. Glue); and Tauria Rewi. aged 52. unemployed (Mr D. J. Taffs). All but Flyger were remanded in custody by Judge Fogarty to February 14 to enable’ interim psychiatric reports to be obtained. Mr Bedo. for Flyger, said that as his client was not in need of such a report the remand sought would be to February 7 in custody. By then a date for the taking of depositions could be set. Flyger. Genet and Jackson are also charged with offering an indignity to the body

of the deceased. The charge of murder laid against Rewi replaces an earlier charge of assaulting Mr Bell with intent to injure which, at the request of the police, was withdrawn. George Raharaha, aged 30. a sickness beneficiary (Miss F. Bolwell) was charged with assaulting Mr Bell with intent to injure him. An application for bail was granted. Raharaha was allowed self bail of $2OOO with a surety of the same amount. He also was remanded to February 14. None ’of the defendants pleaded to the charges. Interim psychiatric reports had been sought by the police prosecutor. Sergeant M. P. Caldwell. The appearance of five persons on charges of murder in two homicide cases attracted considerable public interest. The public gallery was packed and people were standing along one side of the courtroom.