A funeral will take place in Christchurch this morning for the man accused of killing five-year-old autistic boy Leon Jayet-Cole.

The boy's stepfather James Roberts was due to stand trial for his murder in October, but was found dead earlier this week.

Roberts was on bail at the time of his death, prompting questions from Leon's father Michael Cole and lobby groups.

"Whether he's innocent or guilty, we could have got to the bottom of this, and I wouldn't be left with this great big hole in my life," Cole said. 

His funeral is at Westpark Chapel in Burnside at 10am.

It's understood Leon's mother Emma will attend.

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