A man found dead in the drive of a Foxton poultry farm was awaiting trial on child sex charges.
The beaten body of Glen Donald Stinson, 57, was found in the driveway of the Wylie Rd property on Saturday.
Palmerston North rural area commander Inspector Mark Harrison said
Stinson had a criminal history and was facing active sexual-offending charges.
"He was known to the police and some of his previous convictions were for sexual offending. Some of the charges he was facing related to children."
A post mortem showed Stinson died from severe injuries to his head and face.
Mr Harrison said he could not comment on whether police believed the allegations against Stinson had contributed to his death.
"We've got a completely open mind regarding any motive."
The charges against Stinson were before the Palmerston North District Court awaiting a trial date.
The Herald understands Stinson would have faced three charges relating to indecent acts and one charge of attempted rape, although it is not known if there were one or more victims.
Mr Harrison said he was not sure when the offences were alleged to have occurred. He was also not sure of the age of the victim or victims.
Police were looking into Stinson's history as part of the murder investigation.
A 31-year-old woman was granted interim name suppression when she appeared in the Palmerston North District Court yesterday charged with assaultingand kidnapping Stinson.
The woman, a mother, was s remanded in custody and will reappear next week.
Asked if it was likely the woman would face more charges in relation to the inquiry, Mr Harrison replied: "[It's] still early days yet and still a lot of people to talk to."
Mr Harrison refused to say if the arrested woman was known to Stinson or what their relationship was. "That's all before the courts," he said.
Police investigating the case were also speaking to a Palmerston North man found at Paeroa yesterday. Police seized the man's car for forensic examination but it was not known what, if any, charges he could face.
Mr Harrison said the man was wanted on an arrest warrant and was helping police with their inquiries.
