Yvonne Chapman
Photo: Supplied / Facebook

A man accused of killing a woman who was fatally shot in a Whangārei park has been unable to appear in court on Friday, because he’s still in hospital being treated for serious injuries.

The 63-year-old, who has name suppression, is charged with murdering Yvonne Chapman in a beachside reserve in the suburb of Onerahi three weeks ago.

Gunshots were heard at the reserve, and Chapman was found dead at the scene when police arrived. Officers also found an injured man.

The accused man was to have made his first appearance in the Whangārei High Court this morning.

The judge remanded him in custody at Auckland Hospital until his next hearing in May, and set down three weeks for a possible trial in early 2027.

Both the defence and prosecution asked for continued name suppression.

Justice Johnstone said he had reservations about whether the case met the threshold for ongoing suppression, but gave both parties two weeks to make a formal application.

He also asked the defence to seek information from medical professionals treating the man about when he would be to able to appear in person.

More than a dozen of Chapman’s friends and family members were in court.

After her death she was described by family as a precious taonga who touched the lives of many.

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