Margaret Rd murder accused in court

The men accused of murdering Tauranga businessman Gary Kimura are headed to trial in the High Court in Rotorua following their latest court appearance.  

Taonui Hiku, Jesse Hartley and Joseph Rewi appeared in Tauranga District Court on Tuesday where a pre-trial date was set down.

Police investigating the scene of the attack in Margaret Road in October.

Co-accused Witeri Ahomiro Neketai will also head to trial but did not appear in court on Tuesday.

The four men earlier pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder.

The group are accused of murdering the 44-year-old who was attacked in his Margaret Road home in Otumoetai on October 5 and subsequently died in hospital.

Gary was left with injuries to his brain, fractures to his cheek and damage to his eye socket and rear of his skull after a beating and initially taken to Tauranga Hospital.

He was airlifted to Waikato Hospital and then transferred back to Tauranga Hospital where he died on November 16.

The accused will appear in the High Court at Rotorua for a pre-trial hearing on September 13.

A trial is expected to take place at the beginning of next year.