Tight security surrounded Nelson District Court this afternoon as the man charged with murdering a 22-year old man in a city park early on Saturday evening appeared with four associates also charged in relation to the death.
Blair Robert McNaughton, 24, of Richmond, entered no plea on the charge of murdering Anthony Troy (known as Troy) Minto at Branford Park and of being in possession of a firearm and unlawful assembly. He was remanded in custody to next appear on Friday.
Police were present in and outside the courtroom, with people entering the courthouse being searched before being allowed in and armed offenders squad members surrounding the courthouse entrance.
Appearing alongside McNaughton were four associates, Blake Paul Cunnard, 23, of Timaru, Isaac Crawford Warren, a 20-year old labourer, Samual Ingram Gillbanks, a 22-year old labourer, and Jared Matthew Perry, a 22-year old bartender, all of Nelson. Each entered no plea on charges of possession of a firearm and unlawful assembly and were all remanded in custody to reappear on Friday.
Police say Mr Minto was killed by a single gunshot to the chest following a fight between two groups of people who met at Branford Park in the east of Nelson city in a pre-arranged fight over a woman known to both groups.
Police were called after witnesses heard fighting followed by a single gunshot. They found the body several metres away from a softball bat. An associate of Mr Minto suffered moderate head injuries and was taken to Nelson Hospital.
Armed offenders squad members stormed a house in Richmond late on Saturday night and arrested four people. A fifth man was arrested yesterday.
