Yanfei Bao Photo: Supplied
The man charged with murdering a missing Christchurch woman has entered a not guilty plea.
Yanfei Bao has not been seen since 19 July and police are still searching for her.
A 52-year-old man was arrested at Christchurch Airport several days after her disappearance and charged with kidnapping, and on Monday laid an additional charge of murder.
The charge sheet said the accused was alleged to have murdered Bao on 19 July.
The man was assisted in Christchurch District Court by a Mandarin interpreter, and he was wearing prison issue orange sweatshirt and pants.
His lawyer requested continued interim name suppression, saying it was effectively his first appearance on the murder charge, and there was difficulty communicating.
He said his client had very limited English, and he was only able to get instructions through an interpreter.
Judge Kevin Phillips granted interim name suppression until the man's next appearance on 1 September. However, he said at that point its continuation would need to be argued in front of a High Court judge.
Half a dozen seats in court were taken up by Bao's family members, and their presence was acknowledged by Crown prosecutor Courtney Martyn.
The Crown did not oppose interim name suppression, but they said they would oppose it at the next appearance on 1 September.
The man was remanded in custody.