A man charged with the murder of Mongrel Mob Barbarians president Steven Taiatini in Ōpōtiki last year has been granted name suppression.
Police allege Taiatini was fatally struck by a vehicle on St John St in the Eastern Bay of Plenty town following an altercation late on the evening of June 9.
A 50-year-old Ōpōtiki man appeared in Whakatāne District Court on Tuesday.
There was a large police presence at the courthouse for the man’s appearance and tensions were high in the public gallery.
Judge Paul Geoghegan adjourned the matter for 30 minutes to await the arrival of three members of Taiatini’s family.