Murder accused abused in court

Angry friends and family of murdered Kapiti Coast man Raymond "Son" Piper, whose body is still missing, have hurled abuse at two people charged in connection with his murder when they appeared in court today.

Susan Bragger, 44, of Paraparaumu and Sean Hawke, 50, of Tauranga, who had been held in custody since their arrest last month, appeared in Porirua District Court this morning. They face charges of intent to cause grievous bodily harm and causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Piper between May 15 and June 8.

Mr Piper was last seen at his former partner Hanna Lark's house in Paraparaumu on May 15.

Bragger is Ms Lark's mother and Hawke is her uncle.

Judge Peter Butler granted the pair bail until their next appearance on August 30.

As they were led away, nearly two dozen of Mr Piper's supporters shouted at them "give our boy back", "f-k you" and "you're dead mate", before they were ushered from the court.

Earlier the group was kept to one side of the public gallery, well away from the dock, and one woman had her mobile phone confiscated as she appeared to try and take a photograph of the pair.

Bragger and Hawke both stood with their heads bowed during their short appearance.

Ainsley Brent Anderson, 51, unemployed, has been charged with being a party to the murder. He will reappear in court later this week.

Outside the court the group continued to vent their anger against the accused, with cardboard banners reading "Kill yourself", " UR going to hell", "Sean Hawke is a homo" and "RIP Son".

Arran Downey, a friend of the Piper family, told NZPA people who had been charged in connection with murder should not be granted bail.

"They shouldn't be granted bail while the family grieves and they haven't got a body, they haven't had a funeral.

"Until they get the body back the Piper family don't get any rest or resolution."

- NZPA