Christchurch murder accused makes third appearance

A friend holds a photo of Vanessa Pickering after her funeral. Photo / Simon Baker

The man accused of murdering Christchurch mother Vanessa Pickering was today remanded for a post-committal conference on April 16.

Freezing worker Malcolm George Chaston, 40, was making his third appearance in Christchurch District Court since Ms Pickering's body was found down a bank at Lyttelton's Godley Head on February 11, the Christchurch Court News website reported .

Chaston has entered no pleas to sex charges, abduction, and the murder of Ms Pickering on or about February 8.

Suppression of his name was lifted last week when an appeal to the High Court was dismissed, but the hearing confirmed the continuing ban on the publication of pictures of Chaston.

- NZPA