Man on manslaughter charge remanded

A Whangarei man charged with the manslaughter of a mother of two during a domestic dispute has made another appearance in court.

The 32-year-old, who has interim name supersession, entered no plea to the charge of manslaughter and another of assault relating to an incident in January this year.

He appeared in Whangarei District Court before two Justices of the Peace today.

Flanked by a police officer, the man focussed on the front of the court throughout the brief appearance.

The public gallery was full of his family members and family members of the dead woman.

He was remanded in custody to appear again on March 22.

Patricia Anne McGrath, 34, who was taken to the Whangarei Hospital on January 4 after suffering head injuries during an assault in her Fairway Dr, Kamo, home the night before.

Ms McGrath- who has two children, aged 15 and 12 - was taken off life support two days after she was allegedly assaulted and she died on January 8.