A man accused of killing a woman in Whanganui can be revealed as the half-brother of Labour MP Kiri Allan.
Eric Ara Mete, 50, has been charged with murdering Lorna-Anna Marie Thompson, who was found dead last month.
Name suppression for Mete lapsed when he appeared in the Whanganui High Court on Thursday. There was no application for the suppression to continue.
Allan told reporters on Thursday she didn't grow up with Mete, but it had been a challenging time.
"I'm an auntie, sister, daughter. That's been really important for me over the last couple of weeks to put that role at the forefront of my mind and be very clear that it is in a separate and distinct category as my role as a Parliamentarian."
"Our thoughts and all of our aroha have been with the victim and her whānau at this time.
"These tragedies that occur within our families often happen behind closed doors and they operate in the darkness."
She said she understood that due to her role there would be attention on the case.
"Of course it adds in an extra element, and I have been inherently concerned about the impact my personal role will have on both of the whānau."
Mete underwent a psychiatric assessment on May 2 and it was recommended that another assessment report was completed.
Pleas will take place at a case review on July 12 in the Wellington High Court. In the meantime, he has been remanded in custody.
Allan was elected to Parliament in 2017 as a Labour List MP on the East Coast.
Newshub.
