The High Court in Christchurch has heard the first evidence in the murder trial of Tingjun Cao.

He's accused of killing estate agent Yanfei Bao.

Newstalk ZB's Emily Ansell says Bao's partner, Paul Gooch, realised something was wrong when Bao hadn't picked up her daughter from after-school care.

"He said when he got home, he checked the dishwasher to see if Bao's lunch dishes were there - as usually, she'd come home and eat. But they weren't." 

Court adjourned early today, for various reasons including translation issues.

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