Homeless man murder accused makes no plea

Justin Turner

A man has appeared in Rotorua District Court charged with murdering a homeless Auckland man.

Justin Vance Turner, 28, appeared before Judge James Weir today charged with the murder of 49-year-old Maqbool Hussain in Balmoral, Auckland just over two weeks ago.

Turner did not enter a plea and was remanded in custody to reappear in the High Court at Auckland on April 16.

Turner was arrested in Taupo yesterday after a member of the public called police after observing a man behaving suspiciously near the wharf.

Mr Hussain's body was found in a squat behind an empty shop in Balmoral on March 24.