Man found dead in stream was assaulted last year

A man found dead in a Palmerston North stream last week was the victim of a serious assault last year.

The body of 37-year-old Jonathan William Tarrant was recovered from the Kawau Stream on Thursday afternoon just weeks before his attacker was due to be sentenced.

His family had reported him missing that morning after he had not been seen since the previous weekend.

Police have ruled out foul play, but as yet don't know how he came to be in the stream.

The Manawatu Standard reported that Mr Tarrant was the victim of a serious assault for which James Matua Grace is due to be sentenced in Palmerston North District Court next month.

Grace's co-accused was still before the courts, but it is unclear if the matter would proceed in light of Mr Tarrant's death.

- NZPA