By Ethan Griffiths, Open Justice reporter of 
The three men accused of murdering Whakatāne man Mark Hohua in June can now be named.
Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook
Dean Nga-Rangikatuhi Collier, Te-Patu Kino Mokai Kereru Biddle, and Heremaia Gage appeared in the High Court at Tauranga on Wednesday, when their interim name suppression lapsed.
The trio are accused of murdering Hohua on 18 June 2022. The 48-year-old was airlifted to Waikato Hospital but died from his injuries the following day.
The circumstances of the alleged murder are not yet clear.
All three men entered pleas of not guilty and did not seek an order for further name suppression.
It is understood that Hohua had connections to the Tribesmen gang. Video of his funeral procession in June was posted to social media, showing a large number of motorcycles in convoy.
A group of Hohua's whānau gathered in court on Wednesday.
The three accused are to next appear in court for a case review hearing on 21 September.
A trial is set down for May 2024.
* This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald.
