Murder accused Tingjun Cao was back in court this morning, as the second week of his trial began.
The 53-year-old is accused of stabbing and killing real estate agent Yanfei Bao in July last year, but denies the offending.
The Chinese national was in and out of the High Court in Christchurch last week, which saw proceedings interrupted on multiple occasions. On Friday evidence continued without Cao.
This morning he entered the courtroom with a bandage visible on his neck and hand.
Justice Lisa Preston told the jury, “As you can see Mr Cao is present in the court today, seated in the dock. That is the arrangement that will best assist today and that may or may not change from here on in.”
Last week he had been sitting near his lawyers.
Arrangements have been made for the Mandarin translation of proceedings to be made available to Cao via a headset, should he chose not to attend court.
Justice Lisa Preston has previously advised the jury not to read into any absence, firmly emphasising it is not an admission of guilt and does not advance the Crown case.
Defendant wasn’t working on day of alleged murder
The court this morning heard evidence from Cao’s employer Jason Li.
The defendant had worked for his kitchen cabinetry business, Vision Kitchens, and also carried out some private renovations for Li.
The witness was asked about Cao’s hours on July 19 2023, the day of the alleged murder.
He said he wasn’t working for him that day.
It’s the Crown’s case that the defendant met Yanfei Bao at a Hornby property, before attacking her there and leaving with her body in his car boot.
He’s accused of burying her on farmland on the outskirts of Christchurch and later, trying to flee the country.
The trial continues.
By Laura James and Katie Stevenson
