Alleged murderer pleads not guilty | Coffs Coast News | Local News in Coffs Coast

A MAN facing charges over the alleged murder of former Coffs Coast resident Simon Dingle in Tasmania in January has pleaded not guilty to being an accessory after the fact.

The 21-year-old Parkham man is charged with making false statements to police and has been ordered to appear in the Tasmania Supreme Court in May.

Three other males from north-western Tasmania have also been charged over the death of 27-year-old Mr Dingle, who died of head injuries in Launceston Hospital following the altercation.

Tasmanian Police will allege a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is the prime suspect in the murder case.

The court heard the 21-year-old allegedly lied to officers saying the 17-year-old accused was not at the Deloraine caravan park at the time of the murder.

An 18-year-old is also facing charges of murder and aggravated robbery along with another 17-year-old boy.

Both their cases are pending in court.

Simon Dingle grew up on the Coffs Coast before travelling the world, and more recently Australia.

He was in Tasmania with his youngest brother, Ross, on a fruit-picking assignment when he was allegedly attacked by the accused at the Deloraine Apex caravan park.