Electrician charged with Johnsonville murder

The man charged with the murder of Wellington woman Wathanak Tea appeared in the Wellington District Court this morning.

Malcolm Alan Francis, a 53-year-old electrician from Porirua, entered no plea and was remanded in custody for a week.

Ms Tea, 37, disappeared from her home in Johnsonville on December 27 but was not reported missing until three weeks later.

Blood was found in her house and on December 28 her wallet was found dumped on a back road between Johnsonville and Tawa, Wellington. Her body has not been found.

Ms Tea, who also used the name Mao Tea, immigrated to New Zealand from Cambodia with her husband in 1998.