A Rotorua woman faces murder accessory charges for hiding a man suspected in a fatal Dec. 12 crash that police believe was not accidental.

A woman from Rotorua has been charged with helping a 28-year-old man avoid arrest after the December 12 death of 37-year-old Nicholas Mitchell in a crash on Ford Rd. Police say Mitchell’s injuries were inconsistent with a typical accident, prompting a homicide investigation. The woman, whose identity is protected, faces an accessory after the fact of murder charge for allegedly transporting and hiding the suspect between December 12 and 18. She appeared in court, entered no plea, and was granted bail to reappear on January 20. The suspect appeared in court on December 19 and was granted interim name suppression until his February 5 hearing. The investigation remains ongoing.