7 plead not guilty over death

Hamilton: Seven people charged over the killing of a Hamilton man in April have pleaded not guilty.

The accused, four men and three women aged between 20 and 37, made their first appearance in the High Court at Hamilton yesterday.

Three are charged with the murder of 40yearold Sao Young, whose body was found on a rural property at Gordonton, just north of Hamilton.

The others face a variety of charges including manslaughter, kidnapping, being an accessory after the fact and wounding with intent.

All seven will reappear in court in December for a case management hearing and until then continue to have name suppression.

A trial has been set down for October next year.