Christchurch man Faiz Ali was allegedly murdered on Armagh St on February 21, 2021.
The identity of the man accused of bludgeoning a Christchurch man to death at a block of flats just outside the central city will continue to be kept secret after a recent change in defence counsel.
The 38-year-old appeared via video-link in the High Court in Christchurch on Friday on a charge of murdering Faiz Ali.
James Rapley QC appeared for the defendant. Rapley told the court he had only been appointed on Thursday and had very little time to liaise with his client. He requested the case to be postponed to allow him to take instructions.