Man accused of murdering a Taranaki woman faces a new violence charge will awaiting trial

Leigh Matthew Frederick Beer has been charged with murdering Emma Field. Photo / Tara Shaskey

A man accused of murdering his partner and setting fire to the house at which her body was found is facing a new violence charge.

Leigh Matthew Frederick Beer, 31, was charged with arson and murder following the death of Taranaki woman Emma Field on May 27.

It is believed the pair were in a relationship at the time of her death.

On Friday, Beer appeared via audio-visual link from Whanganui Prison in the High Court at New Plymouth.

There, the Crown laid a fresh charge of injuring with intent to injure, which also relates to events surrounding the death of 21-year-old Field.

While Beer is yet to enter a plea to the new charge, not-guilty pleas were confirmed in relation to the counts of murder and arson.

Field's body was found at a Devon St West address in New Plymouth following a fire that ripped through the century-old house that was divided into flats.

After an extensive investigation that involved forensic fire investigators, Beer was arrested and charged on July 7.

Emma Field was found dead following a house fire in New Plymouth in May. Photo / Tara Shaskey

At today's hearing, which was attended by a number of family and friends of both Beer and Field, defence lawyer Julian Hannam made an application for electronically monitored bail on behalf of Beer, which the Crown opposed.

After hearing the submissions, Justice David Gendall reserved his decision but said he hoped to release it soon.

A new trial date of June 12, 2023, was set down and is expected to run for three weeks.