Six charged with murdering Whanganui man James Butler

James Butler was found dead at his Wikitoria Rd property in April.

Charges of murder have been laid against six men in relation to the killing of Whanganui man James Butler.

Butler, 53, was found dead at a Wikitoria Rd property on April 22.

Another man in his 50s was found seriously injured at the property and taken to Whanganui Hospital.

The six men — who all have name suppression — appeared in Whanganui District Court on Tuesday when Judge Patrick Grace suppressed details of the charges.

That suppression was lifted on Wednesday.

The six were also charged with participating in a criminal group; wounding Brent Butler with intent to cause grievous bodily harm; and stealing a radio scanner and set of mag wheels from James Butler.

They will appear for call-over in the High Court in Whanganui on October 29.

Shortly after Butler's death, a police dive squad searched the Whanganui River in the hope of finding discarded weapons.

Police had earlier said Butler's death was not the result of a random attack and the people involved in the incident were known to each other.

After an Official Information Act request by NZME, Corrections confirmed that Butler had been on a community-based sentence.

It is believed Butler had been on home detention.