Man charged with murder of Johnny Charles Wright

A 37-year-old man has been arrested and charged with the murder of Hastings man Johnny Charles Wright.

The man appeared in Hastings District Court on Friday charged with murder and male assaults female.

Handcuffed to a detective and sporting numerous bulldog tattoos on his right arm, the man represented himself in the absence of his lawyer, and successfully argued for name suppression, "so I can tell my family".

Mr Wright, a 50 year-old sickness beneficiary, had not been seen or heard from since June 21, and was reported missing by family on July 10.

His body was later found on August 28 in a rural area off Waipunga Rd, near Eskdale, north of Napier.

Justices of the Peace remanded him in custody without plea on charges of murder and male assaults female. He will appear next on November 15.