KEY POINTS:
A Nelson man accused of murder has been granted bail.
Damien Harley MacDonald, 21, has denied murdering Nicholas Winter, 26, outside Mr Winter's Nelson home on March 18. He has been in custody since March.
His trial has been set down for June 16 next year in the High Court at Nelson.
MacDonald is accused of bashing Mr Winter, who was abusing him, with a piece of wood causing severe head and facial injuries from which he died.
In the High Court today Justice John Wild said because of MacDonald's age, lack of criminal record, the length of time before the trial, and changes to the Bail Act he had to grant bail.
He imposed several bail conditions including reporting three times a week to Nelson police station.
- NZPA
