By Andrew McMartin
A Manawatu man has been arrested and charged with the 2011 murder of Whanganui man Brett Hall.
The 49-year-old appeared in the Whanganui District Court today.
He was granted interim name suppression and has been remanded in custody.
He will reappear in the court on July 14.
The officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Kirby, said the investigation had been an "extremely difficult inquiry".
"The investigation team never gave up trying."
Mr Hall was 47 when he went missing from his farm property up the Whanganui River in late May 2011. His body has never been found.
Police say a recent breakthrough in the case led to today's arrest.
"Recent developments as well as information obtained from our inquiries and public appeals resulted in the arrest and charge," Det Snr Sgt Kirby says.
Last month, Mr Hall's mother pleaded for help to solve the crime.
Police conducted an extensive homicide investigation and search into Mr Hall's disappearance. More than 30 detectives from the lower North Island worked on the case.
"We have further inquiries to make and a prosecution to prepare, but this is a major breakthrough and from the outset the investigation team has been determined to give some peace and closure to Brett's family," Det Snr Sgt Kirby says.
3 News
source: newshub archive
