Second man charged over Christchurch man buried under shed

A second man has been charged in connection with the disappearance and death of young Christchurch father Braydon Hepworth.

Police confirmed today a 34-year-old Christchurch man had been charged with offences relating to the concealment of the 21-year-old’s body.

He is due to appear in the Christchurch District Court on Friday.

The arrest comes after a 60-year-old man was charged with offences relating to the concealment of Hepworth’s body and making a false statement.

The property where Braydon Hepworth's body was found. Photo / Jazlyn Whales

The older man appeared in court earlier last week, where he was granted interim name suppression and remanded in custody until his next appearance in two weeks.

Police said they were continuing to investigate how Hepworth died.

“As this matter is now before the courts Police are unable to make further comment at this time,” a police spokesperson said.

The Herald previously reported a post-mortem examination had been carried out after Hepworth’s body was found at a Hereford St property.

However, the results were understood to be inconclusive, with police awaiting further test results to help determine the circumstances of his death.

Police discovered Hepworth’s body while making inquiries into his disappearance in September.

It is understood the occupant of the flat was among the last people Hepworth had contact with before he went missing.

A source previously described the investigation as complex and a “slow burn”, saying there were “still more questions than answers”.

The last confirmed sighting of Hepworth, who had a baby daughter, was at a Linwood service station on September 3.

Security footage showed him wearing a Monster Energy-branded beanie with headphones over the top.