Tūrangi death: Lance Dickinson pleads not guilty to murder

Lance Dickinson, a 27-year-old labourer from Taupō, appeared in the High Court at Rotorua. Photo / Kelly Makiha

A man accused of murdering a Tūrangi woman in June can now be named.

Lance Dickinson, a 27-year-old labourer from Taupō, appeared in the High Court at Rotorua this morning charged with murdering Cherie-Lee Rae Bell on June 20.

He is further charged with two breaches of a protection order.

The first was on June 15, when it is alleged he made unauthorised contact with Bell by arriving at her Hinerangi St house in Tūrangi and refusing to leave.

The other breach related to June 20, when it is alleged he engaged in family violence against Bell by physically abusing her.

Dickinson first appeared in the Rotorua District Court on June 20 and was granted interim name suppression, which lapsed today at his first appearance in the High Court.

Through his lawyer, Alexandra McPherson, he entered not guilty pleas to the charges.

Justice Graham Lang remanded him in custody to reappear for a case review hearing on October 17. His trial was set for April 2028.

Police said in June they had charged a man after emergency services were called to Hinerangi St, where a woman was found dead.

Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.