Missing Hastings man Johnny Wright, whose body was found at the weekend, died as the result of an assault, police have confirmed.
Police searched the area on Waipunga Road in Eskdale, north of Napier, after receiving a tip-off and found the body, which was identified as Mr Wright today, Detective Senior Sergeant Dave de Lange said.
Mr Wright, 50, had been missing for some weeks and was last seen in Hastings last month.
Blood was found on the lounge wall, floor and ceiling of his Hastings flat when it was cleared on June 25, after he told his landlord he could no longer afford to pay rent.
"Full post-mortem results have yet to be finalised, although provisional results indicate Mr Wright died as a result of injuries received from an assault,'' Mr de Lange said.
