Ten retain name suppression on charges relating to the death of Kevin Ratana in Whanganui District Court

A hearing in Whanganui District Court next Tuesday will determine whether the accused retain name suppression as they face charges relating to Kevin Ratana's death. Photo / Bevan Conley

Ten men appeared in Whanganui District Court today facing multiple charges relating to the death of Kevin Ratana.

A 31-year-old pleaded not guilty to two charges of threatening to kill and has elected for a jury trial.

He also pleaded not guilty to a charge of unlawfully possessing police property and participating in organised criminal activity and will next appear in the court on November 20.

All 10 retained interim name suppression after lawyers argued that their clients and their families were at a high risk of endangerment if their names were released in the media.

Judge Charles Blackie reluctantly granted an extension of time for evidence of this endangerment to be provided to the court.

A hearing will be held in Whanganui District Court next Tuesday to determine whether interim name suppression remains.

The other nine men are co-accused on the charge of participating in criminal activity, eight have pleaded not guilty to it and elected a judge alone trial.

They will reappear in Whanganui District Court on January 25.

The other man has been remanded without plea until October 9.

Ratana was shot dead at a property on Puriri Street in Castlecliff, Whanganui, on August 21.

He was a 27-year-old father of two and a member of the Mongrel Mob.

A 27-year-old man that previously pleaded not guilty to two charges of threatening to kill did not appear in the court on Tuesday.

He has elected for a judge alone trial and will reappear in Whanganui District Court on October 9.