A fifth man has been arrested and charged in relation to the fatal shooting of James Whatuira.
A 32-year-old Woodville man was charged with being party to a murder and appeared in Palmerston North District Court yesterday.
Mr Whatuira, a 49 year-old from Pahiatua, who was found dead in Woodville last month.
The newly-charged defendant was granted interim name suppression and remanded in custody until his next appearance at the High Court in Palmerston North on March 16.
Earlier this week, a 41-year-old vineyard worker appeared in Christchurch District Court charged with murdering Mr Whatuira. He too was granted interim name suppression and remanded in custody.
Mr Whatuira, known affectionately as 'Poto', was killed with a single gunshot wound. He was found dead at an Ormond St property on January 4.
Three Dannevirke men, aged 29, 35 and 45, have also been charged with being party to a murder and appeared in Palmerston North District Court on Thursday. All were given interim name suppression and remanded in custody until the March court date.
Police said Mr Whatuira did not live at the Ormond St property. Twenty officers worked on the investigation and searched for the gun used in the shooting.
The Woodville house was also the scene of an incident on October 23 last year, when a man was stabbed in the face and stomach, while another man suffered knife wounds to his hand.
NZME
