Murder accused named

The teenager charged with the murder of Haumoana man Mark Beale can be named as 19-year-old Johnnie Puna. Puna appeared briefly before Justice Simon France in the High Court at Napier yesterday. Beale, a 45-year-old father of two was found unconscious and critically injured near the mouth of the Tukituki River in the seaside Hawke’s Bay settlement of Haumoana about 7am on February 6. He was taken to Hawke’s Bay Hospital but later died of his injuries. Puna was arrested on February 24 and charged with murder. Puna did not enter a plea yesterday, and was remanded in custody until May 22. Justice France indicated if a not guilty plea was entered, a trial date would be sought for later in the year.