A 65-year-old charged with murdering Far North woman Gaelene Bright has appeared in the High Court at Whangārei.
Photo: Ministry of Justice website
He is accused of shooting her at Waimamaku about May 1 and unlawfully possessing a 22′ rifle.
Her body was found in Waipōua Forest two-and-a-half weeks later, near State Highway 12.
The man, who has name suppression, first appeared in Hastings last month.
He was remanded in custody without plea this morning, to reappear in three weeks.
Northland acting Detective Senior Sergeant Kevan Verry has called Bright’s death a “tragic situation”.
Police had put out a plea for sightings when she went missing, and used search and rescue teams with dogs to comb areas around Waimamaku.
Bright’s Holden Rodeo was found just south of Te Kūiti after she disappeared.
