By Juanita Copeland
The Christchurch man charged with murdering his wife and Tisha Lowry can now be named, after a court suppression order was lifted today.
Jason Paul Somerville, 32, made his second court appearance under heavy scrutiny but his brief time in the dock provided little fresh information.
The presiding judge lifted Somerville’s name suppression and that of his most recent alleged victim, 35-year-old mother of three Rebecca Sarah Somerville.
He is alleged to have murdered her last Sunday, the day he reported her missing to police.
Her body, along with that of missing woman Tisha Lowry, were found under the floor of his Wainoni house a week ago.
No immediate family members of either woman were in court, but a handful of interested people were.
Rebecca Somerville was a regular church-goer, attended alcohol and drug addiction meetings and was said to be working hard to regain custody of her three young children.
“Rebecca was a well loved member of her family and had many friends. She was struggling to get her life back on track and was making good progress, and we are proud of her and her achievements,” said her family in a statement.
Funeral plans for Rebecca Somerville are being kept private while Tisha Lowry’s will be tomorrow.
Somerville will be back in court in a month.
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