The 17-year-old man charged with manslaughter after allegedly assaulting a security guard at a South Auckland supermarket has been remanded in custody after a brief appearance in the Papakura District Court.
The security guard, Goran Milosavljevic, later died from his injuries.
The teenager appeared from the court cells for his hearing.
He yelled: "It was self defence" before leaving the court. Supporters in the public gallery yelled that they loved him.
The teenager has been granted interim name suppression until at least his next appearance, which will be on May 29 at the High Court in Auckland.
The judge said she granted suppression because of his age, and because he was not properly represented by a lawyer.
The teenager stood with his arms folded for much of his appearance.
The guard was understood to be working at a Papakura Countdown when he was allegedly knocked to the ground from a single punch delivered by a youth he had been investigating for suspicious behaviour.
The punch is said to have been captured on CCTV and happened in front of other shoppers.
In a statement today Countdown Managing Director Dave Chambers said the security guard (Goran Milosavljevic) had worked with Countdown for eight months.
"We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss of one of our team," he said.
"The safety of our people and customers is our absolute priority, and no New Zealander should go to work and not expect to return home to their loved ones.
"Our focus right now is to support the family and our team in whatever way we can.
"We've also made as much information and footage as we have available to the police and will continue to cooperate with their investigation."
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