Elizabeth Zhong murder: man pleads not guilty to murder

A man accused of killing Auckland businesswoman Elizabeth Zhong has pleaded not guilty to murder.

The defendant appeared before Judge Sally Fitzgerald in Auckland High Court this morning.

He listened carefully and nodded as a Mandarin interpreter explained procedural matters.

Your name removal will continue until at least May 6, when a name removal hearing will be held.

The court heard that a six-week murder trial was expected to begin on April 26 of next year.

The accused of murder will remain in preventive detention until the trial.

His appearance at the May 6 name suppression hearing and review of the case on May 19 were not required, defense attorney Scott McColgan told the court.

He previously appeared in Manukau District Court on February 12.

Zhong’s body was found in the trunk of his car near his Auckland home in late November last year in the eastern Auckland suburb of Sunnyhills.