A man accused of kidnapping an Auckland man at the centre of a homicide inquiry has appeared in court for the first time.
Steve Gunbie appeared in the Manukau District Court today after being arrested by the police yesterday, almost three weeks after Lance John Murphy went missing.
Mr Murphy's body was found on a rural property in Wellsford at the weekend. The Waiuku man had last been seen at a service station in Warkworth on 21 November.
A 51-year-old man appeared in court on Monday charged with Mr Murphy's death.
Mr Gunbie was remanded in custody without plea, to reappear in the High Court alongside the 51-year-old next month.