Opotiki murder accused named

The Opotiki man accused of the murder of 22-year-old Joe Collier who died following a gang-related street brawl last month can now be named.

Name suppression lapsed for Tamaikoha Takao when he appeared in the High Court at Tauranga today where he pleaded not guilty to one count of murder.


Tamaikoha Ruameke Takao in the docks at the High Court in Tauranga.

The 34-year-old was granted interim name suppression by Judge James Weir at a previous appearance in Rotorua District Court on July 16.

But no continuation of name suppression was applied for during the hearing today, before Justice Brewer, who appeared via audio-visual link.

Heading into court a large police presence was felt as three officers, and extra security guards, scanned people entering and searched bags.

Public were excluded from the courtroom where the accused appeared in the docks flanked by three Department of Corrections' officers.

Takao was arrested following a two day investigation into the death of Joe Collier on July 13.

The 22-year-old was found unconscious on King Street as police responded to the fight on nearby Goring Street. He was taken to hospital in critical condition but died a short time later.

A 20-year-old man is also facing a charge of assault with a weapon in relation to the fight on the night of July 13 for allegedly driving a car into a crowd of people.

Takao is remanded in custody until October 8 when a case review will be held and a trial date set.

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