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A man charged with arson at the Waiuku Business Park is due to reappear in court in March after a judge declined to grant him ongoing name suppression.
Janus Breytenbach, 30, appeared in the Manukau District Court on December 10, where Judge Yelavich dismissed an application to keep his identity suppressed, finding the principles of open justice outweighed any potential “extreme hardship”.
Breytenbach is on bail and entered a not guilty plea at his first court appearance on November 26, following his arrest last month.
Because of that plea, many details of the allegations cannot be reported.
He is next due to appear in court on March 6, 2026.
In court last week, defence lawyer, known as Mr Roy, argued the upcoming jury trial could be prejudiced because jurors might be drawn from the “small” Waiuku community. The Crown opposed the application, saying the jury would be selected from a wider south Auckland pool.
Judge Yelavich was not satisfied that the defence arguments met the high threshold required for name suppression.
Breytenbach is charged with intentionally damaging immovable property by fire in relation to the blaze that engulfed part of the Future Post site late on November 24. The fire was not brought under control until the morning of November 25.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment.
Police allege the damage was intentional and without lawful claim. Fire and Emergency New Zealand previously confirmed crews from 16 Auckland brigades battled the large, smoky blaze throughout the night.
The name suppression application was lodged on December 2, after the Franklin Times sought confirmation of Breytenbach’s identity.
Bail conditions include a prohibition on entering Waiuku township, even in the company of his parents, except for passing through without stopping.
