Epsom rampage: Accused keeps name suppression after court appearance

The 49-year-old man accused of carrying out a violent rampage in the Auckland suburb of Epsom last week has appeared in court for the first time.

The man had been in hospital, but was now in prison, after allegedly assaulting a jogger, taking a car and running down three high-school-aged cyclists, and killing a dog.

One of the teen cyclists remains in a critical condition.

At the Auckland District Court on Monday afternoon, the accused appeared via audio-visual link.

Judge Simon Lance agreed to give him interim name suppression until 4 September in order for a psychological evaluation to take place.

The man's lawyer, Jane-Frances O'Halloran, said she had a brief phone call with her client on Monday morning, but had yet to meet with her client in-person.

She said three to four weeks was enough time for her to visit the accused in prison and for any concerns relating to identifying him publicly to be addressed.

Media were permitted to take photos of the man on the condition his face is blurred. The man faces 17 charges including intent to cause grievous bodily harm, which has a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment.