Dead man's friends charged

Four Nelson men in their early 20s who were friends of 22-year-old slain man Troy Minto have been charged with unlawful assembly.

The three men, aged 22 to 24, were arrested yesterday and are due to appear in the Nelson District Court on December 15. They've been released on bail by police in the meantime.

The charges relate to a fight at Branford Park 10 days ago, in which Mr Minto died after being shot in the chest.

Detective Senior Sergeant Wayne McCoy of Nelson said police inquiries were continuing and it was possible more arrests would be made and further charges laid against men from both sides of the fight.

Richmond man Blair Robert McNaughton, 24, has been charged with Mr Minto's murder. He is also jointly charged with four of his friends at the fight with unlawful assembly and possessing a pump-action shotgun. All have been remanded in custody, with McNaughton and three others due back in court on Friday and the fifth man remanded to January 18.

Police have said Mr Minto was shot after the two groups gathered to fight because of a dispute over a woman, who was not connected to Mr Minto.

- © Fairfax NZ News