McLaren Falls death: Chaos in court as verbal spat breaks out

12:53 pm on 20 November 2018

One of the men accused of killing a Ngaruawahia man tried to charge across the court room after a verbal spat with someone in the public gallery.

Mitchell Curtis Rehua Paterson.

Mitchell Curtis Rehua Paterson. Photo: Facebook/Mitchell Paterson

Five men are facing charges over the death of 26-year-old Mitchell Paterson at McLaren Falls near Tauranga in July.

Mr Paterson's body was found in the water below the McLaren Falls Bridge.

The accused appeared in the High Court in Hamilton today where the hearing was disrupted by co-accused Leon Wilson trying to sprint across the courtroom after a verbal spat with someone in the public gallery.

He was constrained by prison officers, police and court security officers and dragged out of court.

New charges have been laid against the five men.

Simon Walker, 36, has been charged with his kidnapping and murder and now Christopher Smith, 34, is facing the same charges.

Leon Wilson, 49, and Grant Wickens are now facing manslaughter and kidnapping charges.

A fifth man, James Green, 27, is facing an accessory charge.