Manslaughter charge after man fatally injured on Malfroy Rd, Rotorua

Radford Kaea in the Rotorua District Court. Photo / Stephen Parker

A manslaughter charge has been laid after a man was fatally injured in Rotorua last month.

Radford Kaea, 24, is accused of causing the death of Michael John Anderson with blunt force trauma on Malfroy Rd, on February 1.

Police were called to the scene on the side of the road about 5.30pm that day and found Anderson with serious injuries.

Anderson later died in hospital on February 13.

Police at the scene on Malfroy Rd last month. Photo / Supplied

Kaea is also charged with intentionally damaging Anderson's windscreen on December 27 last year.

Kaea did not enter a plea to either charge in the Rotorua District Court this morning.

His name was previously suppressed but defence counsel Bill Lawson did not seek continued suppression for his client today.

Judge Greg Hollister-Jones remanded Kaea on continued bail at a Tokoroa address until his next appearance at the High Court at Rotorua, on April 3.

Kaea first appeared in court on February 18 charged with wounding with intent to injure.

Today that charge was withdrawn by Crown prosecutor Amanda Gordon, and replaced with a new manslaughter charge.