Man accused of Jack Nicholas murder named

Name suppression has been lifted on the man charged with murdering Hawke's Bay farmer Jack Nicholas in 2004.

Murray Kenneth Foreman, 49, a labourer, appeared in Napier District Court on Wednesday and was refused name suppression by Judge Barry Morris.

Foreman was given until 10am today to appeal that decision but a court official said no appeal had been submitted.

Foreman has also been charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice for allegedly getting a woman to make a false statement to police during inquiries into the murder.

He remains in custody until his next court appearance on May 24.

Foreman was arrested last week amid a flurry of activity that saw police search several properties in the seaside settlement of Haumoana, near Napier, seize several vehicles, and conduct a search of the nearby Tukituki riverbank for evidence.

Mr Nicholas was shot dead at the gate of his remote farm at Puketitiri, northwest of Napier, on August 27, 2004.
- NZPA