A 42-year-old man has been charged with the murder of 64-year-old Val Heaney two weeks after she was found dead in her Christchurch home.
It's reported Heaney was isolating at her Walcot Street home in Bromley with COVID-19 when she was killed.
The 42-year-old, who has been granted interim name suppression, appeared by video link in the Christchurch District Court today.
The man has been remanded in custody without a plea until his second appearance in the High Court next month.
Police initially treated Heaney's death as unexplained but upgraded it to a homicide investigation following her autopsy.
Court charge sheets allege Heaney was killed on April 3 and was found dead the following day.
Police said the 42-year-old was known to Heaney.
Heaney's family weren't in court today, but following her death they released a statement, saying they were grieving the loss of a much-loved family member.
They add Heaney was a carer for people with intellectual disabilities, and a community support worker, which was a testament to the find wonderful person she was.
Police thanked the Christchurch community for their support and cooperation throughout their investigation.
