Nathan Te Hana appeared at the High Court in Christchurch today. Photo / Pool
A Christchurch man has today denied murdering his flatmate.
Michael Joseph Graham, 57, was found dead at a house on England St, Linwood, last month.
Emergency services were called at 2.50pm on January 3 and told Graham needed medical assistance.
When they arrived he was dead.
Nathan Ihaka Te Hana, 46, was arrested and first appeared at Christchurch District Court on January 6.
Today at his second appearance at the High Court in Christchurch, his lawyer Bridget Ayrey said Te Hana pleads not guilty to the charge of murder.
A trial has been set down to begin on May 2, 2022.
Friends of Graham were shocked by his death.
One woman who had known him all her life said it was "upsetting" to hear what had happened to him.
"Michael was a softie who sadly got stuck in the world of addiction," she said.
"He tried a number of times to get his life back on track but could not sustain it.
"We all liked Michael, so it is with a heavy heart many of us are extremely sorry this was his ending."
The woman said Graham was unemployed and single.
She contacted the Herald after learning of his death because she wanted people to know his name.
"He had such huge potential but sadly he never got to use it," she said.
"All he ever wanted was a loving wife and family."
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