Backpacker murder trial to be held in Greymouth

Greymouth will be the venue for a two-week trial over the murder of Korean tourist Jae Hyeon Kim, whose body was found in a grave near Charleston last month.

Details were settled in the High Court at Christchurch today, with Justice Paul Cooper setting a starting date of June 22, the Christchurch Court News website reported.

Before the pre-trial conference was Nelson fisherman Shannon Brent Flewellen, 29, who is charged with the murder of Mr Kim.

A second man, whose name and the nature of the charge he faces are suppressed, will also be on trial. He was not at today's hearing.

A third man, who has pleaded guilty to the murder, has been committed for sentence in the High Court at Wellington on December 5. He also has name suppression.

Pre-trial arguments before the Greymouth trial are set for May 8 next year.