Two men charged over the kidnapping and murder of a man are due to go on trial in October.
Michael Joseph Waipouri, also known as Michael Davies, has been charged with the murder of Lance Murphy.
The body of the missing 56-year-old was found last month at a rural property in Wellsford, north of Auckland.
Mr Murphy was reported missing after last being seen at a service station in Warkworth, a town not far from where his body was found, on 21 November.
Michael Joseph Waipouri had been given name suppression but that lapsed when the 51-year-old accused appeared at the High Court in Auckland today.
Alongside him was 37-year-old Steve Gunbie who faces a charge of kidnapping and unlawfully taking a car.
Both deny their respective charges.
