The case against the man accused of killing journalist Derek Round will go straight to trial.
Michael Umanui Werahiko, 31, was due to appear in the High Court at Wellington for a pre-trial hearing on Monday.
He was transported from prison to the court for the hearing and led into the dock, but his appearance was excused because neither the Crown nor defence needed to make applications ahead of his trial in July.
Mr Round's body was discovered in the living room of his Campbell St home in Wanganui about 8.30am on May 17 last year. The 77-year-old, formerly from Wairarapa, had died the previous evening.
An autopsy revealed several violent blows to the head had fractured Mr Round's skull.
