About two dozen supporters of a Kapiti Coast man believed to have been murdered shouted obscenities as one of those charged in connection with his death appeared in court on Friday.
Ainsley Anderson, who's 51 and unemployed, appeared in the Porirua District Court on one charge of being a party to Raymond Piper's murder and was remanded in custody to reappear in August.
A large number of the Piper family's friends and supporters yelled abuse at him as he stood in the dock.
As he left the dock, Mr Anderson turned to those shouting at him and made a shooting motion with his right hand.
Outside the court Victor Takiwa, a friend of the Piper family, held a white cross with the name Ainsley written on it.
He says that emotions are still running high for Mr Piper's family and that Mr Anderson's gesture in court had made them especially angry.
"He showed he didn't care," Mr Takiwa said.
Mr Piper has not been seen since he went missing on 15 May but police examination of a vehicle connected with him has led them to conclude that he was violently murdered.
Mr Takiwa is urging anyone with information about Mr Piper's disappearance to contact the police.
