William Candy, 39, Ethan Webster, 18, and Jodie Hughes, 30, have been charged with murder. Photo / Pool
The three people accused of murdering a Taranaki farmworker lived on the same road as the alleged victim, it can be revealed.
The body of Jacob Mills Ramsay, 33, was found at an Upper Kina Rd property - where he was believed to be residing - in Oaonui, South Taranaki, on July 31.
Name suppression protecting the identities of the trio who have been charged with his death has now lapsed.
The murder accused are William Candy, 39, Ethan Webster, 18, and Jodie Hughes, 30.
According to court documents, Candy and Hughes live together at an Upper Kina Rd property, while Webster also lives on the road but at a different address.
While all three have been charged with murder, Candy and Hughes are also accused of kidnapping Ramsay, and Hughes is additionally charged with burglary.
On Friday, the trio appeared via audio-visual link from prison custody in the High Court at New Plymouth - their second court appearance on the matter since they were arrested and charged.
All three entered deemed not-guilty pleas to their respective charges.
Previous name suppression orders lapsed at the hearing and further orders were not sought.
Justice Rebecca Ellis remanded the accused back into custody ahead of a case review hearing on October 21.
However, Hughes' lawyer Patrick Mooney said an application for bail would be made for her at a later date.
A trial date has been set down for August 14, 2023, and is expected to run for three weeks.
The public gallery was at capacity with family members of the victim and the accused, while Ramsay's wife, Sarah Ramsay, attended the hearing via audio-visual link.