A woman accused of murdering a man and burying him in the backyard of his north Christchurch home has appeared in court this morning.
Rena Joyce aka Maloney, 55, a kitchen hand, is charged with murdering Martin Orme Berry on December 29.
Police were alerted to the "location of the body" at a property on Main North Rd in Papanui two weeks later.
At the High Court in Christchurch this morning, Maloney made a brief appearance from custody.
Justice Cameron Mander remanded her in custody without plea until February 19.
The family have said they are "devastated" by Berry's death.