A man who allegedly beat his stepmother's brother so badly he died following a clash at a South Auckland property has appeared in court to face a murder charge.

A man found guilty of murdering his elderly neighbour has avoided a term of life imprisonment due to a 'serious psychotic illness.'

A Christchurch man accused of murdering a 21-year-old mother appeared in court today.

A traditional Thai funeral was held for the man that died after a savage beating last week.

A drug addict and alcoholic who broke into the Christchurch home of a 62-year-old widow and bashed her to death in her bed for a couple of hundred dollars was jailed for life today.

Rosemary Ives had everything to live for, but she was shot dead while brushing her teeth at a camping ground.

A Hamilton hunter who shot and killed a Lower Hutt teacher while spotlighting last Labour weekend has been sentenced to two-and-a-half-years jail for manslaughter today. He was also ordered to pay reparation to a charity chosen by the

A man accused of murdering his first wife, plotting to kill his second NZ wife and planning to marry a third to get insurance payouts will stand trial today.

The man accused of sexually violating and killing a five-year-old Napier girl has been further remanded in custody.

Police have extended their manhunt for homicide suspect Patrick Young outside of Auckland and say he has connections all over the North Island.

A man has been charged with manslaughter in relation to the death of a five-year-old Napier girl in December. Sahara Baker-Koro was found dead in her Napier home on December 21 last year.

The man accused of murder after his wife's body was found burning on a roadside near Huntly last week has reappeared in court.

The man accused of murder after his wife's body was found burning on the roadside near Huntly is facing three charges, including one of assault in December last year.