Murder accused was on bail

The 26-year-old charged with murdering Hamilton man Jaycee Dallas Van Der Drift was on bail at the time.

Bryce Tamati Kapea, of Hamilton, appeared briefly yesterday in the Hamilton District Court charged with Mr Van Der Drift's murder.

Kapea, dressed in a blue boilersuit, was supported in court by his mother.

He will reappear in court on Monday for a bail application.

Hamilton police confirmed yesterday that Kapea appeared in court on Wednesday on an unrelated charge of breaching bail.

Mr Van Der Drift died early Thursday morning after allegedly being hit over the head with a hammer and then kicked on the ground.

Kapea's younger brother, Tauira Kapea, 17, also appeared in court yesterday charged with unlawful assembly.

He entered no plea and was granted bail to reappear in court next month.

Community Magistrate Kathryn Wilson placed the 17-year-old under 24-hour curfew and ordered him not to possess alcohol or associate with any police witnesses.

A third man appeared in court on Thursday charged with possession of an offensive weapon in relation to the incident.

Police yesterday said about 20 witnesses were helping with inquiries, but the weapon used in the attack had not yet been found.

- © Fairfax NZ News