Friends of Lower Hutt man Matthew Stevens hurled abuse at three people in court charged with his murder.
Matthew Stevens Photo: NZ POLICE
Stuart Graham Wilton, 27, of Upper Hutt, and Darrin John Wilkie-Morris, 24, and Kelly Leigh Crook, 27, both from Lower Hutt appeared are jointly charged with murder.
Mr Stevens was found beaten and stabbed to death alongside the Paekakariki Hill Road on 29 November.
Security was tight at the Hutt Valley District Court as the three accused appeared before Judge Pat Grace.
They were abused by friends of Mr Stevens as they stood in the dock, while several family members of the accused cried.
Judge Grace remanded the three in custody to appear in the High Court at Wellington in February.
