Five in court after brutal death

A police officer leads one of the accused into court during an earlier appearance. Photo / Wairarapa Times-Age

Five people appeared in Masterton District Court this morning in connection with the brutal death of Featherston man Glen Jones.

Mr Jones was attacked in his house just after midnight on January 12 and died in Wellington Hospital hours later.

The five accused appeared in court jointly on related charges of entering Mr Jones' home armed with a wooden bat and an axe handle intending to commit a crime.

Judge Bruce Davidson lifted the interim name suppression on two of the initial three defendants charged - Matthew McKinney, 28, and Toni Miller, 22 - after he was told they were not seeking continuation of suppression by their respective lawyers, Jock Blathwayt and Louise Elder.

The third defendant is still trying to keep her name suppressed.

The final two defendants Hayden Ranson, 27, and Kristofer Jones, 23, were arrested days after the attack. Jones was captured near Hunterville earlier this week and Ranson gave himself up to police in Upper Hutt on Wednesday.

Miller and the woman seeking name suppression are the only defendants seeking bail. A decision on their bail application is expected this afternoon.

The other three defendants have been further remanded in custody until February 7.

When Jones appeared this morning there was a shout from the public gallery of "your family loves you".

Wearing a grey top and grey tracksuit pants, he looked around continuously during the short hearing.

Ranson also wore a grey T-shirt. He looked unkempt and appeared relaxed.

McKinney had his hair tied and his arms folded while Miller wore a purple top and remained at the back of the group looking agitated.