KEY POINTS:
A man may have been murdered in Wanganui because he was wearing the wrong colour clothing, a District Court Judge has said.
Paul Shane Kumeroa, 29, died on September 25 after being left bashed and bleeding on Cross St in Castlecliff two days earlier.
Five people, three men and two women who all have interim name suppression, have been charged with his murder.
The three male accused, aged 34, 22, and 17, reappeared in Wanganui District Court on Friday.
Judge Peter Butler said during the hearing the three men and their families were Black Power affiliates or associates, but Mr Kumeroa was not a member of any gang.
"Unfortunately, the victim was wearing clothes that were the wrong colour that night and they associated him with the rival gang."
Gang tensions were "high" in Wanganui right now because the trial for the men accused of killing toddler Jhia Te Tua was still under way in Wellington, Judge Butler said.
He was concerned the killing had been a possible "tit for tat" between rival gangs.
Judge Butler released the 17 - year-old on bail with a 24 hour curfew and remanded the other two are in custody until their next court appearance on December 10.
The two women, aged 22 and 19, charged over the killing will appear in court on December 8.
- NZPA
