Trial set for man accused of murdering Aneli Helu Katea in Dunedin

A trial date has been set for the 25-year-old man accused of murdering Aneli Helu Katea in North Dunedin earlier this month.

The defendant appeared in the Dunedin High Court this morning before Justice Rachel Dunningham, where a trial date was set down for June 2027, with a reserve date in November 2026.

The trial date is pending the result of a mental health report which has not yet been completed, with assessors having requested up to 10 weeks to deliver their findings.

Justice Dunningham requested that the reports be made available by the accused’s next appearance in December.

The accused was charged with murder after the body of Katea, 36, was found at a Great King St address on Friday, October 3.

The offence carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

At his first appearance on October 6, the man was remanded in custody and reports were ordered to assess his fitness to plead and potential insanity, at the request of counsel Anne Stevens KC.

Name suppression was also sought, which has been continued.

Police earlier said the pair knew each other and initial indications suggested Katea died from “non-accidental injuries”.

Neighbours reported hearing a scream on Friday afternoon before officers arrived.

Ben Tomsett is a multimedia journalist based in Dunedin for the NZ Herald.