Joseph McGirr denies charges after US polo star’s death in Christchurch

A man charged with the sudden death of an American polo star in the spa pool of a Christchurch hillside home will stand trial later this year.

Lauren Mikaila Biddle, 22, died in a hillside home in the Christchurch suburb of Clifton on October 22, 2018.

Biddle, a promising American polo player, had been in New Zealand for just over a week.

He had planned to stay in Clifton, working and playing polo, until March of last year.

His family was shocked by the death of their “vibrant and fun-loving” girl.

Joseph Douglas McGirr, a 38-year-old civil engineer from Christchurch, was arrested after Biddle’s sudden death on his property.

McGirr has pleaded not guilty to two counts of supplying MDMA, a Class B controlled drug, cultivating cannabis, and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

His attendance was excused when his case was called to the Christchurch District Court this afternoon.

Judge Jane Farish confirmed that a five-day trial is scheduled to begin on November 16.

Devastated father Tommy Biddle Snr previously said that his daughter was not only an accomplished polo player, but also enjoyed jumping and riding.

“She was an incredible cyclist,” he said.

“We will never get over it, but we are trying to move on and find ways to deal with it.”