'Toy boy' arrested over Kiwi woman's death faces further charges

Adam Kennedy was denied bail and will appear back in court next month. Photo / Thinkstock

More charges have been laid against the boyfriend of a former Hawkes Bay woman found dead in Australia.

Debara Martin, 43, was found dead at a house in northern New South Wales on May 4 after police pulled over a drink-driver.

The mother-of-one grew up in Hawkes Bay and two years ago moved to Australia, where she worked as a chef and was recovering from breast cancer.

On her Facebook page she listed her education as Karamu High School and her home as Napier.

Adam John Kennedy, 24, was arrested after members of the public reported a car driving erratically.

Kennedy, a chef, failed a roadside breath test and was interviewed by police, who subsequently visited a Bowraville house. Ms Martin's body was found at the address.

Police are still investigating the circumstances of her death.

In earlier reports, a friend of Miss Martin described Kennedy as her "toy boy'' and said that the pair had recently split.

In addition to a murder charge, Kennedy was charged with drink-driving, driving while disqualified, escaping police custody, supplying a prohibited drug, possession of a prohibited drug, possession of an unauthorised firearm, not keeping a firearm safely, possession of unauthorised ammunition and dealing with the suspected proceeds of crime.

He appeared at Port Macquarie Local Court via video link, was denied bail, and will appear again on June 21.