The Yanfei Bao murder trial in Christchurch has been paused today due to “logistical matters” relating to the defendant.
The jury was called in just after midday to be told Tingjun Cao, 53, had expressed he does not want to be in court at this time.
The Chinese national has pleaded not guilty to murdering the Christchurch real estate agent last year.
The 44-year-old mother disappeared on July 19, 2023 and her body wasn’t found for more than a year.
Today was set to be the third day of the case, after evidence on day two was adjourned early for “various reasons”.
Justice Lisa Preston explained: “Mr Cao, as any defendant, has the right to be present at his trial, however he may waive that right. And you’ll notice this morning, again, Mr Cao is not in the court room, and I’m satisfied that presently, he does not wish to be present at his trial.”
Justice Preston added the trial can legally still proceed in his absence.
“However, if that is to occur in this case, there are some logistical arrangements that I want to make sure are put in place to ensure a continued fair trial for Mr Cao,” she said.
The rest of today is needed to make those arrangements.
The judge stressed: “No adverse inference is to be drawn from Mr Cao’s absence from the courtroom, yesterday afternoon or today.”
“His absence is not, certainly not, an admission of guilt and it does not advance the prosecution case in any sense.”
Justice Preston told the jury she hopes the trial will continue tomorrow.
