The alleged murderer of Wanganui man Whetu Hansen has pleaded not guilty.
The accused, 56, who has interim name suppression, appeared in the High Court at Wellington on Tuesday via audio-visual link from Palmerston North.
Mr Hansen, 48, was last seen on November 24 last year. Police found his car at a Linton property. They are still looking for his body and his dog Henry.
A friend of Mr Hansen's was in court yesterday. Fighting tears, Wanganui woman Michelle Hina - who wore Mr Hansen's Ford vehicle keychain around her neck - said she and the family just wanted the body.
"I just want my friend back. I don't care who did it; I don't care what happened - I just want him resting. That's what we want, the family ... I've been crying for six months, I miss him so."