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Elizabeth Zhong, 55, was found dead near her Auckland home in November last year.
A man will appear in court charged with murdering Auckland businesswoman Elizabeth (Ying) Zhong.
The 47-year-old appeared shortly before 3 p.m. Friday in Manukau District Court before Judge Christopher Field.
Her court appearance comes 11 weeks after the day the businesswoman was last seen alive at her Sunnyhills home in East Auckland on November 27.
The accused will appear in court with the help of an interpreter.
He wore a black sweatshirt and appeared cloudy-eyed on the pier, flanked by police security personnel, after spending the morning in cells across the street at the Manukau Police Station. The man did not speak.
His attorney, Auckland attorney Scott McColgan, indicated that he would object to requests from the media to film or photograph his client and that he would seek removal of the name.
After the man’s brief appearance, Judge Field adjourned the court session and all his other matters, given what he described as “the gravity of the charge and the complexity of the matter.”
The court is expected to meet again later in the afternoon.
THE ARREST FOLLOWS A TWO MONTH INVESTIGATION
Police investigating Zhong’s death announced on Friday morning that they had arrested a 47-year-old man.
Zhong, 55, was found dead near her Auckland home in November last year and the resulting police investigation, dubbed Operation Attina, had yet to produce an arrest so far.
In a statement, Detective Inspector Shaun Vickers, Manukau County Sheriff’s Office, said he hoped the arrest would “bring some reassurance to the community and Elizabeth’s family.”
“We know that the community expected the police to go ahead with the investigation and bring Elizabeth justice.
“Since the beginning of this investigation, the team of detectives working on Operation Attina has worked diligently to achieve an outcome in this case.”
Zhong, who had big business interests, came to New Zealand from China 23 years ago with his family.
His businesses included a motion picture effects company and a winery. She has been described as a “friendly, hard-working and enthusiastic businesswoman”.
