Court for Featherston attack accused

These are the faces of four of the five accused who appeared in Masterton District Court yesterday on aggravated burglary charges related to an attack on Featherston man Glen Jones, who later died.

Name suppression remains until January 25 for the fifth suspect, a 32-year-old Masterton woman.

She and Toni Miller, 22, have been granted bail but the three men accused will stay in custody until all five are back in court on February 7. No pleas have yet been entered.

All five are charged with entering Mr Jones' home on January 12, armed with a wooden bat and an axe handle with the intention of committing a crime. The 40-year-old Featherston supermarket worker died after the alleged attack on him.

Judge Bruce Davidson granted bail for Miller and the 32-year-old woman with conditions.

The judge had earlier lifted an interim name suppression order on Miller and Matthew McKinney, 28.

Two accused in the dock yesterday, Hayden Ranson, 27, of Hutt Valley and Kristofer Jones, 23, of Masterton, initially fled from police. Jones was subsequently captured and Ranson gave himself up.

When Ranson stepped into the dock, a shout came from the public gallery.

"Hang in there, brother. You are doing the right thing. Your family loves you."

Jones appeared in a grey top and grey tracksuit bottoms, and looked around continually during the short hearing.

Ranson wore a grey T-shirt, McKinney had his hair tied and his arms folded. Miller wore a purple top and looked nervous and agitated.