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14 Jan 2026 20:45

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A man will stand trial accused of murdering a Christchurch woman on New Year's Eve

A man will stand trial accused of murdering a Christchurch woman on New Year's Eve

5 June 2020

Bella Te Pania was found in a vehicle at an Air New Zealand engineering and maintenance facility at Christchurch International Airport.

Emergency services were called, but the 33-year-old sex worker died a short time later

A 43-year-old plasterer was arrested at the scene and has been charged with her murder.

Today at the High Court in Christchurch, he entered a not guilty plea

A trial date has been set for May

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