By Rob Kidd for the Otago Daily Times
A man has denied a charge of murder but admitted unlawfully taking the victim's car.
John Collins Photo: Otago Daily Times
John Kenneth Collins, 37, appeared before the High Court at Dunedin this morning, by audio-visual link from prison, in front of Justice Gerald Nation.
He entered a not guilty plea to the murder of Brent Andrew Bacon whose body was found at a rural location north of Waitati on 18 February, the day after police converged on a crime scene at Lock St, St Clair.
Collins admitted taking Mr Bacon's dark blue Toyota people mover on 5 February.
It was later found in Picton.
Collins, who is in custody, will next appear in court in February.
A trial date of 11 May has been scheduled.
- This story originally appeared in the Otago Daily Times