• Four men are in custody charged with murder after Napier street-dweller Boy Taylor was found dead.
• Taylor, 58, was discovered in Napier’s CBD with injuries consistent with an assault.
• The accused will next appear in the High Court on February 4.

Four men — two of them teenagers — will appear in the High Court on murder charges next month after a man was found lying dead in one of Napier’s main shopping streets a week before Christmas.

The body of street dweller and identity Boy Taylor, 58, was found about 3.15am on December 18.

He was lying on the pavement about a metre from a recess between Pascoes the Jewellers and One NZ in Emerson St, near the intersection with Hastings St.

A supermarket trolley was found at the scene when the body of street dweller Boy Taylor was discovered in Napier's Emerson St on December 18. Photo / Doug Laing

Emergency services were called to the scene and CPR was given, but Taylor could not be revived.

Police said his injuries were consistent with an assault.

Police have also alleged a second victim was robbed.

Altogether, four men have been charged with murder. Their ages are 18, 19, 21 and 33.

Two of them appeared in the Napier District Court on Wednesday charged with murder, wounding with intent and aggravated robbery.

The other two appeared in court earlier.

All four have now been remanded in custody without plea to appear in the High Court on February 4.

Taylor was known in the Napier CBD as friendly and sometimes talkative, and could be seen with a supermarket trolley carrying his belongings. A trolley was found at the scene.

Tributes were paid on social media, highlighting a “gentle soul”, who was keen to help when he could.

Taylor had been associated with the non-profit organisation the Tairimu Trust, founded by Zack Makoare in 2007 to “turn the tide” on Māori health disparities by encouraging future leaders.

Makoare said Taylor was a “likeable”, “harmless” and helpful man who had his issues but had been well-liked.

Ric Stevens spent many years working for the former New Zealand Press Association news agency, including as a political reporter at Parliament, before holding senior positions at various daily newspapers. He joined NZME’s Open Justice team in 2022 and is based in Hawke’s Bay. His writing in the crime and justice sphere is informed by four years of front-line experience as a probation officer.