Murder proceedings against James Stedman Roberts have been formally discontinued in the High Court in Christchurch, a month after he was found dead.
Crown prosecutor Barnaby Hawes handed Justice Cameron Mander a stay of proceedings document issued by the Attorney-General.
Roberts, 35, a labourer from Redwood, was found dead in early July at the Christchurch house where he was staying on electronically monitored bail while he awaited trial on the charge of murdering his five-year-old stepson, Leon Michael leFleming Jayet-Cole.
The trial had been set for October 31 and was expected to last three weeks.
Leon died after suffering a serious head injury in May 2015.
Defence counsel James Rapley said he supported the Crown’s application for a stay.
Judge Mander then said: “The court having been provided with a formal stay of proceedings against Mr Roberts by the Attorney-General in the wake of Mr Roberts’ death, the proceeding in this court brought against Mr Roberts is now at an end.”
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