The man accused of murdering Christchurch woman Vanessa Pickering has indicated he may defend the charges against him.
Malcolm Chaston, 40, appeared briefly in the Christchurch District Court on Tuesday.
He is accused of murdering Ms Pickering, whose body was found on Banks Peninsula earlier in February.
Mr Chaston is also charged with assault with intent to commit sexual connection on another woman, abducting a girl for sex, unlawful sexual connection with a girl under 12 and assault on a child.
He did not enter a plea but his lawyer, Kerry Cook, asked for the charges to be progressed to the next stage of court proceedings - a post committal hearing - which may indicate Mr Chaston intends to defend the charges.
He has been remanded in custody until that hearing in April.
