The man charged with the murder of Christchurch woman Michelle Mary Lawrence has appointed a new defence counsel, which has potentially delayed his trial.
Timothy Joseph Foley, unemployed, faces a charge of killing 41-year-old Ms Lawrence in the suburb of Linwood on June 9, last year.
She was rushed tohospital after being found at the property, and was in a critical condition in ICU for three weeks until she died on June 30.
Foley, 52, was originally charged with intentionally causing Ms Lawrence grievous bodily harm but that was withdrawn by police and replaced by the murder charge.
Foley's case was called at a pre-trial callover at the High Court in Christchurch today.
New lawyer Paul McMenamin said he had just taken on the case and needed time to familiarise himself with it.
Justice Christian Whata remanded Foley in custody to a new pre-trial conference date of June 21, with doubts that the September trial date will go ahead at that time.
