Name suppression has lapsed for a man charged with murdering Helensville man Lee McMurdo.
John Grant Cuthers, 28, was jointly charged alongside Andrew Parry Nicholson, 24, with killing the father-of-three at his home last July.
The pair, both from Massey, are also charged with stealing a car police believe islinked to Mr McMurdo's death, and a raft of methamphetamine charges, including supply and conspiracy to supply.
Cuthers, known as Johnny, is unemployed and lives in Massey with family. He and Nicholson were arrested on Saturday after a 13-month investigation into Mr McMurdo's death.
His daughter found his body and police said at the time it appeared he died as a result of a violent assault.
Cuther and Nicholson appeared in the North Shore District Court yesterday.
Cuthers' girlfriend Victoria Jackson, 21, also appeared on a number of methamphetamine-related charges. None of those charges relate to Mr McMurdo's death.
Cuthers and Jackson, who is originally from England but living in Massey, stood close together in the dock and were told off by police for holding hands.
