A 33-year-old man who was allegedly murdered with an axe during a camping trip has been remembered as a ‘humble, beautiful soul’.

Rimani Pena Hughes from Urunga, NSW, was at Little Styx River Campground, east of Armidale, just before midnight on Sunday when police allege Ahwen Kohn, 26, fatally struck him in the head with an axe.

The Daily Mail understands an argument between the two men broke out over a woman.

After the alleged altercation, when a 25-year-old woman in their group suggested calling an ambulance, Kohn allegedly choked her and convinced her to load the body into a car and drive away, Bail Court heard on Tuesday.

Police said she then drove her fatally wounded friend from Ebor to Thora, about 60km away, to find help. She made it to Thora Ambulance Station where he died.

Once the woman had left with Mr Hughes’ body, Kohn allegedly had an argument with someone after asking them for a lift to the main road.

When asked what happened, he allegedly replied: ‘You don’t want to know.’

On Monday, friends took to social media to pay tribute to Mr Hughes, who was a respected member of the Bellingen community.

Rimani Pena Hughes was sadly killed on Sunday after an alleged altercation at a campsite

Pictured: Police at the scene where a 26-year-old man allegedly killed his mate with an axe

The campground (pictured) is about 80km east of Armidale in NSW

One woman said he was a ‘loyal foot soldier for the people he loved’ and ‘stood strong for his friends and never hesitated to show up when it mattered’.

Another said: ‘One of the most kind and respectful people out of all the lads I’ve met in [Bellingen].

A third person wrote: ‘The community of Bellingen, Thora and Urunga will struggle greatly with what has happened.

‘A lovely gentle smiling soul has been taken … My heart is shattered.’

Kohn was arrested on Waterfall Way in Ebor about 11.30am on Monday, 24 hours after the alleged murder.

He was charged with three offences including murder, intentionally choking a person with recklessness, and assault occasioning bodily harm.

Kohn’s Legal Aid lawyer Matthew Spicer made an application for bail, telling the court his client had a ‘limited criminal history’ and would comply with strong conditions.

The police prosecutor opposed bail, telling the court Kohn’s murder charge would result in a life sentence if there was a guilty finding.

Mr Hughes has been remembered as a gentle person who was loyal to his mates

Mr Hughes was a keen camper who was from the NSW town of Urunga 

Kohn remained silent throughout proceedings. 

Magistrate Miranda Moody agreed Kohn had no history of violence, but described the murder allegation as ‘serious and brutal’. 

NSW Police Superintendent Chris McKinnon confirmed on Monday the group were known to each other.

‘It’s always a terrible thing that someone ends up dead from an altercation like this,’ he told reporters.

‘It’s understood that they were known to each other and they were camping together along with a female.

‘We know that male [from Thora] received a lift from someone else who was camping nearby and he was dropped at Waterfall Way.’

Kohn will appear in Armidale Magistrates Court on April 22.