Man accused of sleepout death appears in court

Police officers working at the house in Cotton Place, Papakura, in which 23-year-old Alicia McCallion was found dead. Photo / Sarah Ivey

A man accused of killing his former partner at her family's home last week made a brief appearance in court today.

Karl Eddy, charged with murdering Alicia Jordana McCallion, appeared in Manukau District Court dressed in a white boiler suit.

The 39-year-old Manurewa man initially stood with his hand shielding the side of his face from the media while his lawyer Marie Dyhrberg told the court that she would not be seeking name suppression.

But she did ask Judge Graham Hubble to suppress the image of her client.

"I don't know what is involved in the case so at this early stage, I am not sure if there are issues and identity and I certainly know there is a potential for an alibi.''

Ms Dyhrberg said Eddy was "distraught``after his arrest this morning.

Judge Hubble said media could take photos only on the basis that the image was pixilated.

He remanded Eddy in custody over the Christmas period and he is due back in court next month.

Ms McCallion's body was found by her mother in a sleepout at the family's south Auckland home on Wednesday morning.

She had spoken to a family member at 8.30pm the night before she was killed.

It is understood she was found lying on the floor by the door of the sleepout, which is attached to the family's Cotton Place home but has its own outside door.

Police have not revealed the weapon used to kill the 23-year-old hairdresser but have described it as sharp.

The Herald reported last week that there were no signs of forced entry at Ms McCallion's home.

She grew up in Papakura, attending Opaheke School and Rosehill College.