A man has appeared in court in Auckland to deny a charge of murder in a cold case killing.
Cissy Chen, 44, was missing for 17 months before her remains were found in Totaravale Park on the North Shore in March.
Yun Qing Liu, known as Jack, appeared at the High Court in Auckland Wednesday morning where his lawyer entered a not guilty plea.
Crown prosecutor Aaron Perkins said the Crown's witness list was approaching 50.
Justice Brewer set the trial date for October this year.
The 57-year-old was remanded in custody and will appear for a bail application next month.
Mr Liu was among those who gathered at the site on April the first where Ms Chen's remains were found.
He was also the person that reported her missing in November 2012, when he said she had not returned from a walk on the beach.