Two men held in custody in relation to the death of Napier man Alex Latimer earlier this month have now been charged with his murder.
Hastings District Court. Photo:
The body of 30-year-old Mr Latimer was found at a property in Te Hāroto, Hawke's Bay nearly a week after he was last seen at a petrol station in Bay View on 30 September.
The men, aged 24 and 26, were initially charged with assault and detained on remand.
The assault charges have now been withdrawn.
The 26-year-old still faces a charge of reckless driving and failing to stop for a red light.
They appeared in the Hastings District Court this morning and have been remanded in custody until they appear in Napier High Court on 27 November.
Both continue to have name suppression until then.
Mr Latimer was last seen at the Bay View BP service station, just north of Napier, on Sunday 30 September.
His car, a white Toyota Corolla hatchback, was found burned out on Omarunui Road in Napier the next day.
His body was discovered at the Te Hāroto property on 9 October.
